This special program ranges from Beethoven’s Ode to Joy to Sondheim’s music and lyrics for the Broadway stage and music about music by Rutter and other composers. The Festival Singers are accompanied by an ensemble of strings and woodwinds. Featured soloists include Daniel Wilson (with Elizabeth McGrath on piano); Diana Farrell, Marjie Toops and Barbara Griffith. Baritone Mark Peng makes a special guest appearance.

Mark Peng is a graduate from Chapman University, and has since been teaching and working as a freelance musician in both Southern and Northern California. He has performed the role of Betto in Gianni Schicchi and Antonio in Le Nozze di Figaro as well as partial roles in Roméo et Juliette, Carmen and Die Fledermaus. Collaborating with Pacific Symphony, he has appeared in their Family Opera for Kids productions of Cinderella, Pirates of Penzance, and Die Fledermaus.