Holiday Pops Will Be Mix Of Tradition And Surprises

We are not privy to all of the secrets of the Spokane Symphony Holiday Pops concert.

However, we were able to coax the following information out of guest conductor Randi Von Ellefson:

Santa Claus will be there. We don’t know why, we don’t know how and we don’t know when, but he will show up.

Von Ellefson was considerably more forthcoming about the music. In his fourth year of conducting this concert, he knows what he absolutely cannot leave out.

“We couldn’t possibly do without Leroy Anderson’s ‘Sleigh Ride’ and Handel’s ‘Hallelujah Chorus,”’ said Von Ellefson.

You don’t mess with success.

The rest of the program will consist of a mix of traditional carols, contemporary Christmas songs, and a few Christmas surprises. One new song is “Joy to All the World,” which is a medley of carols from many countries from around the world.

Once again, the Opera House stage will be absolutely jammed with people. Besides 65 or so orchestra members, 200 members of the Spokane Area Children’s Chorus will be on stage. Also, the 140 members of the Spokane Symphony Chorale will be present, if not always on stage. Sometimes, for instance, they will begin a song in the audience and then walk onto the stage.

“We’re trying a few more theatrical things this year,” said Von Ellefson.

Von Ellefson is the director of the Symphony Chorale as well as vocal director at Whitworth College.

Tamara Schupman is director of the Spokane Area Children’s Chorus. She will do a solo turn this year, singing “Jesu Bambino” with backing from the choruses.

Carrie Druffel, assistant director of the Symphony Chorale, will conduct several numbers.

Over the years, Ellefson says, the Holiday Pops concert “has taken on a quality of its own.” That quality is the result of taking “a wide variety of music and coordinating it in a way that captures people’s attention.” He says he hopes this year’s concert does the same.

You don’t mess with success.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Spokane Symphony Holiday Pops Location and time: Opera House, Saturday, 8 p.m., Sunday, 2 p.m. Tickets: $13 to $17, at Spokane Symphony Ticket Office, 624-1200, and G&B. Only a few left for Saturday.