Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra to perform 2 Holiday Pops! concerts

Special to Seacoastonline
·2 min read
John Page will conduct the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra at its Holiday Pops concerts on Dec. 18 and 19.
John Page will conduct the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra at its Holiday Pops concerts on Dec. 18 and 19.

PORTSMOUTH - The Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra (PSO) is performing two Holiday Pops! concerts celebrating holidays around the world on Saturday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 19 at 3 p.m. at Portsmouth High School.

An annual family favorite, this year’s PSO Holiday Pops! performances includes special guest star Randy Armstrong and WorldBeat Marimba. The program includes perennial favorites such as Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride” and “A Christmas Overture,” “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” “The Polar Express: Concert Overture,” “The Chanukah Overture” and others as well as special arrangements of South African and Zimbabwean songs by Randy Armstrong that celebrate humanity.

Randy Armstrong and WorldBeat Marimba perform South African, Zimbabwean and popular songs on handmade South African marimbas, Trinidad/Tobago steel pans, world percussion instruments. Their prior collaborative concerts have included performances with the choruses Voices From The Heart, Ben Baldwin and the Stairwells, Songweavers, and the WorldBeat Marimba Singers.

“We’re so excited to have another chance to collaborate with Randy Armstrong, who was the PSO’s Artist-in-residence during our 2017-2018 season,” said John Page, PSO Music Director. “This year’s Holiday Pops! will be the same celebratory holiday tradition our audiences have come to love, but will include additional songs that celebrate holidays around the world.”

Tickets for the Holiday Pops! performances are $30 adults, $25 seniors, and $15 students and can be purchased through the PSO’s website.

Founded in 1997, the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra is comprised of over 65 local professionals, educators, dedicated amateurs and advanced students, all of whom are required, without exception, to be fully vaccinated. For performances at Portsmouth High School, face masks are required of all concert attendees, regardless of vaccination status.

In addition to the Holiday Pops! Performances, the PSO’s 2021-2022 season includes four full symphony concerts at The Music Hall; and the new six-concert Up Close and Personal with the PSO @ Jimmy’s Chamber Music Series. For more information about the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra and the 2021-2022 season, please visit www.portsmouthsymphony.org.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Portsmouth NH Symphony Orchestra performs Holiday Pops! this weekend