Three Angels Teen Assembles Christmas Symphony

OWASSO, OKLA. – In December 2022, a young member of the Three Angels Seventh-day Adventist Church in Owasso had a dream of assembling a symphony orchestra and presenting a Christmas concert for the community of Owasso. Seventeen-year-old Daniel Orellana proposed his idea to church leaders. He wanted to present majestic orchestral Christmas music to as many people as possible. The church thought that it was a good outreach idea and approved the project. 

The church approved funds from the evangelism budget to purchase the music, start the marketing work and rent the Mary Glass Performing Arts Center, located in the Owasso High School, which has a seating capacity of 1,504 people. The plan was ambitious, but the church stepped out in faith to invite as many people from the community as possible.

Orellana went all over Tulsa recruiting musicians, including his contacts at Tulsa Community College where he is studying engineering and music. He, along with the youth from the church and some friends, went to businesses all over town posting ads calling for volunteer musicians for a Christmas concert. The response was faster and bigger than he ever dreamed! Several of those musicians invited others. Harvey Gil provided his contacts from the long-running Claremore Seventh-day Adventist Church Christmas series, “Festival of Lights.” In the end, 72 musicians answered the call. They came from all walks of life, and from across Oklahoma and five other states. Oklahoma Academy’s choir joined as well.

Orellana selected the music and led the rehearsals at the church. Other church members began the marketing campaign which included a website, Facebook advertising, posters and postcards. The church also ordered 500 Born To Die books to give out during the event. 

At the beginning of the concert, titled “Christmas Symphony,” attendees were drawn to a couple of statements from The Desire of Ages. The concert proceeded with Orellana conducting the orchestra through eight sacred Christmas classic pieces that were majestically arranged. The first piece was “Joy to the World,” arranged by Orellana himself.

Around 1,000 people attended the concert and 380 books were distributed. The testimonies from attendees and non-Adventist musicians have been amazing! Orellana was even interviewed twice by one TV station in the lead-up to the concert. 

The second annual Christmas Symphony will be held at the Mary Glass Performing Arts Center on Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. It will feature timeless classics with innovative arrangements. This year’s concert is a free-ticketed event. Reserve your tickets at OwassoEvents.org.