Happy Holidays!

December is a momentous month filled with musical celebrations that will captivate young and old alike. And there is nothing that evokes the joyous spirit of the holiday season more than festive music.

We invite you to experience the splendor of the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall decked out like a winter wonderland, while you feel the warmth as Pacific Symphony performs beloved holiday classics.

• The Family Musical Mornings series presented by Farmers and Merchants Bank opens up our holiday season with the ever-popular Nutcracker for Kids! program (Dec. 3).

• Everyone’s perennial favorite, Handel’s glorious oratorio Messiah continues a beloved holiday tradition with Pacific Chorale and Robert Istad conducting (Dec. 4).

• Holiday Pops with The Manhattan Transfer, who are celebrating their 50th anniversary, promise a program of holiday favorites featuring lush, sweeping jazz arrangements with their signature tight-knit harmonies (Dec. 16-17).

• The Pedals & Pipes series, underwritten by Valerie and Barry Hon, opens with the Holiday Organ Spectacular (Dec. 20). Our Pacific Symphony musicians have curated an unusual program of sacred and holiday music in arrangements by Barry Perkins, Joshua Ranz, and the orchestra’s good friend, Hollywood film and television composer Steven Mahpar.

If you’re not in the holiday spirit at the beginning of the month, you certainly will be after an entire month filled with so many memorable musical moments.

Wishing you and yours a happy, healthy, and joyous holiday season!

We look forward to a new year full of possibility and exciting live musical performances!

Carl St.Clair

Music Director

William J. Gillespie Music Director Chair