Princeton Symphony Orchestra Presents HOLIDAY POPS!, Today

n Saturday, December 17, the Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) Holiday POPS! Seasonal Delights concert embraces the spirit of the season with the Princeton High School Choir and New Jersey Tap Ensemble at 4 pm and 7 pm performances led by Music Director Rossen Milanov at Richardson Auditorium on Princeton University Campus. The festive program includes March of the Toys by Victor Herbert, "Christmas Concerto" by Arcangelo Corelli, selections from Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker, and Robert Shaw's The Many Moods of Christmas. Of course, no Holiday POPS! concert is complete without the tradition of the audience joining in on carols arranged by Leroy Anderson.

According to PSO Executive Director Marc Uys, "Holiday POPS! offers the perfect opportunity for families and those curious about the orchestra to be enveloped by favorite songs and music while experiencing the rich and thrillingly dynamic sounds of a live orchestral performance."

The Princeton High School Choir has an unusually rich tradition of choral excellence that is unique among American high schools. The choir has performed extensively in North America and Europe, touring as representatives of Princeton, New Jersey, one of America's most distinguished communities. One of five performing ensembles, the 95 members of the choir are selected after careful audition of nearly two hundred voices in the high school's choral program. In addition to performing Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker and Robert Shaw's The Many Moods of Christmas with the PSO, the group will perform "Let Me Fly," a traditional spiritual arranged by Robert DeCormier.

The New Jersey Tap Ensemble last appeared with the PSO in 2012. The ensemble performs during Victor Herbert's March of the Toys with the PSO and takes center stage dancing a cappella. Its members are dynamic adult tap dancers who love the art form, studying its history and pioneers. All of them teach tap classes throughout the state, passing on the art form to the next generation. The company has become known for artistic excellence in performance, development of tap artists, and developing new tap projects and programs.

Tickets for the PSO's Holiday POPS! concert go fast, resulting in sold out performances. The addition of a second, evening concert ensures everyone can enjoy the lush sounds of a full orchestra this holiday season. New this season, each concert will have assigned seating at $50 and $40 levels, with $25 student tickets available. To order, visit princetonsymphony.org or call 609 / 497-0020.

Prelude Event at Princeton Garden Theatre
On December 8, at the Princeton Garden Theatre, PSO principal harpist André Tarantiles will be performing holiday music at 7 pm, prior to the theatre's 7:30 pm screening of Frank Capra's film classic It's a Wonderful Life. For tickets, go to princetongardentheatre.org.