How Evanston Celebrates The Holidays

EVANSTON, IL – The Evanston Symphony will continue its beloved tradition of collaborating with arts groups from throughout Evanston and the North Shore to celebrate the holiday season. This year’s Holiday Concert returns to Evanston Township High School at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10 and features the Symphony in collaboration with the North Shore Choral Society, the Evanston Dance Ensemble, the Evanston Children’s Choir, plus the very popular Evanston Symphony Holiday Gospel Choir, organized by Rev. Kenneth Cherry.

With 350 musicians, dancers and singers participating and more than 1,000 in the audience, this is the biggest indoor arts event of the year in Evanston. Even Santa will get into the act, leading the audience in a sing-along of favorite Christmas carols.

“The annual Evanston Holiday Concert is one of the most enjoyable and thoroughly inclusive arts events of the year, bringing together hundreds of local instrumentalists, singers and dancers to put on a wonderful show to entertain people of all ages,” said Evanston Mayor Steve Hagerty.

The afternoon concert will feature everyone’s favorite holiday music. The full orchestra will play two Sleigh Rides, one by Mozart and the other by Leroy Anderson. Back, by popular demand, are the tap-dancing reindeer, danced by the Evanston Dance Ensemble, who will also dance two scenes from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker ballet.  And be prepared to be moved by our very own gospel choir singing The Temptations’ arrangement of Silent Night, accompanied by the orchestra.

The North Shore Choral Society will join the ESO in selections from the Messiah, including a solo by Julia Davids, NSCS’s choral director. For the grand finale, the NSCS, the Evanston Children’s Choir, and the ESO will be joined by the gospel choir in the “Hallelujah” from Quincy Jones’ “Handel’s Messiah: A Soulful Celebration”, using an orchestration specially commissioned by Evanston Symphony. You will be on your feet for this number, we promise.

The Evanston Symphony Holiday Concert takes place 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec 10 at Evanston Township High School auditorium, 1600 Dodge Ave. in Evanston. For more information, and to take advantage of early pricing discounts by ordering tickets in advance, visit www.evanstonsymphony.org or call 847-864-8804.

Editors: Journalists are welcome to tape and photograph the concert dress rehearsal, at which all the participating arts organizations will be practicing, starting at 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, in the auditorium of Evanston Township High School, 1600 Dodge Ave. in Evanston. Please call ESO General Manager David Ellis at the above number to confirm.