Columbus Symphony Presents Holiday Pops at the Ohio Theatre

An annual Columbus tradition continues as Ronald J. Jenkins leads the Columbus Symphony and Chorus in some of the season's most-loved holiday songs and carols. The event will also include performances by the Columbus Children's Choir, dancers Justin Gibbs and Joanie Evans, narrator Ted S. McGraner, and children from BalletMet, plus a special guest appearance by Santa.

The Columbus Symphony presents Holiday Pops at the Ohio Theatre (39 E. State St.) December 2-4. Show times are Friday, December 2, at 8pm; Saturday, December 3, at 8pm; and Sunday, December 4, at 3pm. Tickets are $23-$68, and can be purchased at the Ohio Theatre Ticket Office (39 E. State St.), all Ticketmaster outlets, and www.ticketmaster.com. To purchase by phone, please call (614) 228-8600 or (800) 745-3000.

The 2011 Holiday Pops program is as follows:

Courtney's Holiday Pops Overture with the Columbus Symphony and Chorus.

Handel's Sing Unto God and Hallelujah, Amen! from Judas Maccabaeus with the Columbus Symphony and Chorus.

Lauridsen's O Magnum Mysterium, a new a cappella work with the Columbus Symphony Chorus.

Main's Fantasy on an Appalachian Carol, a new work with the Columbus Symphony, Chorus, and dancer Justin Gibbs and partner.

Wendel's A Chanukah Overture including Al HaNisim, I Have a Little Dreidel, and S'vivon with the Columbus Symphony and Chorus.

Wilberg's The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy, a new work with the Columbus Symphony and Chorus.

Wilberg's What is that Goodly Fragrance Flowing?, a new work with the Columbus Symphony and Chorus.

Shaw/Bennett's I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In and Deck the Halls from the Many Moods of Christmas, Suite IV with the Columbus Symphony and Chorus

- INTERMISSION -

Willcocks' Fanfares and Carols - O, Come, All Ye Faithful, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing with the Columbus Symphony and Chorus. Audience participation encouraged.

Delmonte/Jenkins' Stars Are for Those Who Lift Their Eyes with the Columbus Symphony Chorus and Columbus Children's Choir.

Rutter's Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day with the Columbus Children's Choir.

Wilberg's The First Nowell with the Columbus Symphony, Columbus Symphony Chorus, and Columbus Children's Choir.

Pierpont/Hayes' Variations on "Jingle Bells" with the Columbus Symphony Chorus.

Anderson's Sleigh Ride with the Columbus Symphony.

Bass' The Night Before Christmas with Columbus Symphony, narrator Ted S. McGraner, II, and children from BalletMet.

Herman/Wendel's We Need a Little Christmas with the Columbus Symphony, Columbus Symphony Chorus, and Columbus Children's Choir.

About Conductor Ronald J. Jenkins
Ronald J. Jenkins has been director of the Columbus Symphony Chorus and Chamber Chorus since 1982. In this position, he is responsible for one of the largest volunteer organizations in the Columbus Symphony family, as he prepares the members of the Chorus for multiple appearances with the Symphony each season.

About the Columbus Symphony Chorus
The Columbus Symphony Chorus, under the direction of Chorus Master Ronald J. Jenkins, is currently celebrating its 51st season. The 130-member chorus, comprised entirely of volunteer singers from central Ohio, performs major works from Bach to Mahler.

About the Columbus Children's Choir
The Columbus Children's Choir is celebrating its 15th anniversary this season. The organization has nine choirs for children in grades 3-12 and Young Musicians' Classes for K-2. The choir has performed at the national conferences of the American Choral Directors' Association, Organization of American Kodály Educations, and American Orff-Schulwerk Association. They have shared their artistry with audiences in the US, Canada, Russia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, and Italy.

About Featured Dancer Justin Gibbs
Justin Gibbs, Assistant Professor of Dance at Wright State University, danced professionally for 18 years with the Grand Rapids Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, Dayton Ballet, Chautauqua Ballet, Contrast Dance Company, and BalletMet. Gibbs has been privileged to perform works by choreographers like Dwight Rhoden, Martino Mueller, Lynne Taylor Corbett, Alvin Ailey, David Shimotakahara, Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux, and George Balanchine, to name a few. As an accomplished choreographer, he has received fellowships from the Greater Columbus Arts Council. Gibbs has created works for the Columbus Symphony and collaborated with BalletMet. Gibbs has been on faculty at Tulsa Ballet Theatre, BalletMet, and New Albany Ballet School.

About Narrator Ted S. McGraner, II
Ted McGraner received a Bachelor of Music from Ohio Wesleyan University. He was heavily involved in theatre productions while in school. McGraner has sung with the First Community Church Chancel Choir from 1987 to 2008. He has narrated Aaron Copland's Lincoln Portrait accompanied by members of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra conducted by Ronald Jenkins.

www.ColumbusSymphony.com

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