Nothing puts you in a festive mood quite like holiday music! Jingle all the way to Christ United Methodist Church for the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra’s Holiday Pops Concert on Saturday, Dec. 7, at 5pm. The concert features BVSO as well as special guests College Station High School Varsity Women’s Choir, the Sanctuary Choir and Canticle Ringers of Christ United Methodist Church, and James Faith on the organ.
“It’s a collaborative venture, not just the symphony,” says Director of Communications and Marketing Nika Hancock. “It’s neat to see all the different groups because they all bring a different flavor. They do stunning stuff as a whole group.”
Each group has a feature section but come together for songs at the beginning and end. To make the concert more accessible, it is shorter than normal symphony concerts, lasting about an hour and 15 minutes. Cookies will be served at a reception afterwards where guests can visit, mingle, and hang out. There are even times during the concert where kids can get up and go to the front.
“It’s funny — anytime the kids are at the front and you see pictures of other people in the audience, they’re smiling. They’re loving seeing the kids at the front,” says Hancock. “It’s the joy of seeing happy kids at Christmastime.”
Hancock urges everyone to get their tickets early for the 11th annual concert, since it almost always sells out. Tickets are available through the MSC Box Office and cost $25 for adults or $10 for kids in high school and below. At the door, adult tickets increase to $30. Be sure to leave enough time to park and find your seats, as seats are not reserved. Hancock says to note that this concert is on Saturday, unlike normal BVSO performances on Sundays.
“The concert has grown each year, which is a testament to how enjoyable it is,” says Hancock. “It’s good timing because it’s a real kick-off to the holiday season. The neatest thing is that you get to hear holiday classics that you always hear, plus something you’ve never heard but that is going to be fantastic, like a musical gift. We try to vary the program, so you don’t hear the same thing every time. We have favorites that we always do, but we do try to keep it different from year to year.”
Songs like Jingle Bells, Silent Night, and Hallelujah Chorus are just a sample of what the symphony and their guests will perform at this highly anticipated concert. It’s called “pops” because the songs played are from popular culture rather than strictly classical. In this case, all the songs are holiday-themed.
“The Holiday Pops Concert is great for really everyone,” says Hancock. “We understand that not everyone is into classical music, but this concert will appeal to everyone because they’ll play holiday favorites. … It’s guaranteed to get you in the holiday spirit.”
For more information, visit www.bvso.org. To purchase tickets for the Holiday Pops Show, visit www.boxoffice.tamu.edu.
