Firelands Symphony Holiday Pops Concert to feature jazz twist

The Firelands Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Carl Topilow, will present its annual holiday pops concert at 4 p.m., Dec. 10, at Sawmill Creek Convention Center, 400 Sawmill Creek Drive in Huron.

This year’s family holiday concert is titled “A Peppermint Twist Christmas” and features favorite holiday classics, as well as non-traditional holiday songs for a sweet twist, according to a news release.

The concert will not only feature the full orchestra, but also the Firelands Symphony Orchestra Chorale, under the direction of Michael Shirtz, and guest vocalist Connor Bogart O’Brien, the release said.

General admission tickets are available at FirelandsSymphony.com/Tickets or by calling the Firelands Symphony Orchestra office at 419-621-4800 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

Adult tickets are $35, and student tickets are $5.

Selections include “Carol of the Bells,” “Sleigh Ride,” “Clarinet Candy” and more.

Highlighting the concert are the back-to-back versions of selections from Tchaikovsky’s traditional “Nutcracker Suite,” followed by Duke Ellington’s swing version of the “Nutcracker Suite.”

The chorale will lift their voices to perform many of the holiday classics both acapella and along with the orchestra, according to the release.

They will perform treasured holiday classics such as “O Come Emmanuel” and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” as well as other pieces like “African Noel” and “Caroling Caroling,” the release said.

Having performed as a soloist on stage with many national orchestras, as well as on television, O’Brien will bring dulcet jazz tones as he performs pieces such as “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” “The Christmas Song” and more.