2026-10-11T00:00:00-07:00
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Morihiko Nakahara, conductor
Spokane Symphony Chorale
Dr. Meg Stohlmann, chorale director

Celebrate the joy of the season with holiday movie music favorites. Songs from It’s A Wonderful Life, Home Alone, Charlie Brown Christmas, Die Hard (And, yes it IS a holiday movie!) and more. Santa, audience carol sing-a-long, and more surprises along the way make this a fun holiday celebration for the entire family!

SATURDAY DOORS 6:30PM | SHOW 7:30PM
SUNDAY DOORS 2PM | SHOW 3PM

ARR: BOB KROGSTAD

Christmas at the Movies

SERGEI PROKOFIEV

“Troika” from Lieutenant Kije

JEAN SIBELIUS

Finlandia

Spokane Symphony Chorale

JOHN FINNEGAN

Christmas Singalong

HOWARD BLAKE

“Walking in the Air” from The Snowman

NIKOLAI RIMSKY-KORSAKOV

“Dance of the Tumblers”
from The Snow Maiden

JOHN DEBNEY

Suite from Elf

INTERMISSION

JOHN WILLIAMS

Spokane Symphony Chorale

Three Holiday Songs from Home Alone

I.Somewhere in My Memory

Spokane Symphony Chorale

II.Star of Bethlehem

Spokane Symphony Chorale

III.Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas

DIMITRI TIOMKIN

Suite from It’s a Wonderful Life

VINCE GUARALDI, LEE MENDELSON ARR: DAVID PUGH

A Charlie Brown Christmas

ALAN SILVESTRI

“God Bless Us Everyone” from
A Christmas Carol

Spokane Symphony Chorale

ALAN SILVESTRI

“Believe” from The Polar Express

LEROY ANDERSON

Sleigh Ride

BENJ PASEK, JUSTIN PAUL
ARR: MAC HUFF

“That Christmas Mornin’ Feelin’”

Santa—Mike Cantlon

It doesn’t seem to matter that wherever I go, whether it be in Spokane, The Netherlands, or even on the flight between those two wonderful places, people look at me with wonder. When the adults are bold enough to speak, they may inquire, “Aren’t you Jerry Garcia?” Or, most often, “Has anyone ever told you that you look just like Santa?” The children just stare at my smiling face in wide-eyed amazement. The truth be told, it was my middle school students in Kent who are to blame for my teaching theater. They begged me to produce “A Christmas Carol!” I’ve taught for over 40 years now and even though I eventually taught Biology and Geometry, I’ve always coached 0-hour theater. Most teachers have to be actors, so with this background, when my spouse told me 35 years ago, “Guess what you’re going to do during the Holiday Pops concert this year. You get to be Santa … for Mitch Miller!” My spouse, Barbara Cantlon, was the English-horn player for the Spokane Symphony, music librarian (and my conducting coach) and when I met her I felt welcomed into the Symphony family. To be “performing” with these incredible musicians has always been one of my greatest joys.

My annual shtick started with conductor Randi Von Ellefson. We began with a bit of repartee, then he guided Santa to the podium and carefully encouraged him to conduct the orchestra (and eventually the Chorale) through the opening bars of “Sleigh Ride”. Maestro Von Ellefson steps away as Santa becomes enraptured with the excitement of the music, he begins to playfully interpret it through dance and gestures with his candy cane baton. Santa has always felt much heart-felt gratitude for the patience of these extraordinary musicians. Thank you for giving me and the audience the gift of so much joy!

Jingle Bells

Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh, hey
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh

Dashing through the snow
In a one-horse open sleigh
O’er the fields we go
Laughing all the way
Bells on bobtails ring
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight

Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh, hey
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh

Joy to the World

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heav’n and nature sing,
And heav’n and nature sing,
And heav’n, and heav’n, and nature sing.

It Came Upon A Midnight Clear

It came upon a midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold:
“Peace on the earth, goodwill to men,
From heaven’s all-gracious King.”
The world in solemn stillness lay,
To hear the angels sing.

Hark! the Herald Angels Sing

Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new born King,
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with th’ angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new born King!”

Silent Night

Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
round yon Virgin Mother and Child,
Holy infant so tender and mild,
sleep in Heavenly peace!
sleep in Heavenly peace!

Away In A Manger

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep in the hay.

Deck The Halls

Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
‘Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Don we now our gay apparel,
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
Toll the ancient Yule tide carol,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

O Come, All Ye Faithful

O come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant!
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him
Born the King of Angels:

O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of Heaven above!
Glory to God
In the highest:

O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

2024-2025 POPS SERIES PRESENTED BY BECU

Ticket Information:

Phone: 509-624-1200
Box Office: The Fox Theater, 1001 West Sprague Avenue

Bag Policy

All bags (with the exception of clutches 6 1/2 by 4 1/2 inches) are subject to visual inspection by venue security.
Large bags are not allowed in The Fox, and must be checked in our Coat Check (located in the North Gallery) for the duration of the event.

Programs are subject to change

Cancellation Policy

All sales are final and nonrefundable.

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