RSO: Home for the Holidays Pops Concert

The Racine Symphony Orchestra continues its 78th season with its Home for the Holiday Pops Concert on Friday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m. at Festival Hall.

RSO Music Director Andrew Massey will conduct, while Wisconsin Public Radio's Norman Gilliland will emcee. The Horlick Madrigal Singers begin the evening's pre-concert with a welcome to the season. The Christmas Festival Chorus, comprised of choral students from Washington Park, Lutheran, and Prairie high schools will join the RSO in a program of traditional holiday music.

The Christmas Festival Chorus is comprised of 100 students, from choruses conducted by Tim Gullicksrud at Lutheran High, Pat Badger at The Prairie School, and Heather Skaggs at Washington Park High School. Listen to your holiday favorites like 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, narrated by Joan Spinks, Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas or White Christmas sung by the choirs. The entire Holiday Pops audience will be invited to sing along to favorites from traditional carols and songs for the season.

The concert begins at 7 p.m. and doors open at 5:30. Tickets are $23 in advance for adults, $25 at the door; $20 in advance for seniors and $22 at the door, $5 students. Tables can be ordered at varying prices. New this year are individual table seats (no table location requests) for $27.50 or $32.50. Catering for walk-up sales will be available. Carry-in food and beverages are welcome, though all alcohol must be purchased inside Festival Hall.

Information and ticket sales are online and by phone at 262.636.9285.

Note: At the first Summer Pops concert this year, the RSO asked audience members to bring in food donations to help stock the shelves at the Food Bank. Patrons did: two large barrels of food was collected. But the holidays are always tough on families and this year is even harder. The six most needed food items are canned fruit, peanut butter, tuna fish, beef stew, canned meats and canned pasta with meat. Racine County Food Bank barrels will be at the doors of the holiday concert, and the RSO asks patrols to make those barrels overflow.

Also, RSO gift certificates are available for the April 17, 2010, classical concert or the two Summer Pops concerts on Friday, June 25, and Friday, August 27. Call 636.9285 or email for more information.