Holiday Pops Tradition Continues, With Updates

Thu., Dec. 12, 1996

By Jim Kershner jimkershner@comcast.net

Tradition requires certain elements in a Spokane Symphony Holiday Pops concert: a Christmas carol sing-along, a visit by Santa, a jaunty version of “Sleigh Ride.”

Those traditions will remain intact Saturday and Sunday. Yet in other ways, this will be a new era for this venerable institution.

For the first time, the show will be conducted by Jung-Ho Pak, the symphony’s new associate conductor. He takes over from Randi Von Ellefson, who conducted the Holiday Pops concerts for the last four years and who has now moved on to teach at the University of Chicago.

Pak has plenty of experience in conducting family orchestral concerts. He is in his fifth year as principal conductor of the Disney Young Persons Symphony Orchestra, which performs every year on the Disney Channel, hosted by Dudley Moore.

Pak and the symphony will be joined by the Spokane Symphony Chorale, conducted by Carrie Druffel, and the Spokane Area Children’s Chorus, conducted by Tamara Schupman. During the big choral numbers, there will be hundreds of voices in full throat - thousands if you count the audience during the sing-alongs.

The concert will include versions of “Deck the Halls,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “Joy to the World,” “Twelve Days of Christmas” and “Sleigh Ride.”

Members of the Spokane Area Children’s Chorus will also be singing in the lobby before each concert.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Staff illustration by A. Heitner

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: CONCERT The Spokane Symphony will present a Holiday Pops concert at 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Spokane Opera House. Tickets range from $13 to $28.50, available at the symphony ticket office (624-1200), G&B Select-a-Seat outlets or call (800) 325-SEAT.

This sidebar appeared with the story: CONCERT The Spokane Symphony will present a Holiday Pops concert at 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Spokane Opera House. Tickets range from $13 to $28.50, available at the symphony ticket office (624-1200), G&B; Select-a-Seat outlets or call (800) 325-SEAT.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.