Pianist Rich Ridenour returns to Dearborn for the Dearborn Symphony Holiday Pops concert Dec. 17 at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, 15801 Michigan Ave., Dearborn.
Dearborn Symphony violinist Stacey Mason will lend her voice to the orchestra to perform fan favorites “Merry Christmas Darling,” “Christmas Time is Here” and a medley of popular songs.
The Dearborn Symphony welcomes pianist Rich Ridenour back to Dearborn for its spectacular Holiday Pops concert, conducted by Steven Jarvi, at 8 p.m. Dec. 17.
This year’s concert celebrates the season with your favorite holiday tunes both silly and traditional. Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride” opens the show with an exhilarating ride complete with horse whinny, followed by the popular song inspired by a traditional Ukrainian folk chant, “Carol of the Bells.” Tchaikovsky is celebrated with “Nutcracker Rock” and “A Tchaikovsky Christmas” both arranged by Ridenour.
The Symphony’s Stacey Mason, violinist and singer, will join the orchestra to perform fan-favorites such as “Merry Christmas Darling” made famous by Karen Carpenter, Vince Guaraldi’s “Christmas Time is Here” for soprano and orchestra, and a medley of popular songs including “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Christmas Song,” and “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.”
Ridenour shows off with some fun piano solos — “Nutcracker Rock” and “Egg Nog Rag.” The Symphony also will introduce 8-year-old old Norah Aue from Lincoln Park and frequent performer on the Downriver Actors Guild stage. Aue will join Mason and Ridenour in “Walking in the Air,” from the 1982 animated film, “The Snowman.”
Of course, it wouldn’t be a holiday show without Santa!
This special hour-long concert without intermission is geared for the whole family. Santa will be in the lobby following the concert for that special holiday photo.
Tickets range from $15 to $35 with student tickets and group tickets available. To purchase tickets, phone the Symphony at 313-565-2424 or the theater box office at 313-943-2354. Go to dearbornsymphony.org for more information or to purchase online.
The Dearborn Symphony has partnered with local restaurants for “Dinner and a Concert.” The restaurants offer a 20 percent discount to symphony ticket-holders on concert nights. Reservations are recommended at Antonio’s in Dearborn Heights and Canton, La Pita, Mint 29, Roman Village, and TRIA at The Henry.
Season sponsors include Ford Land, the Dearborn Sausage Co., Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, with additional support from the National Endowment for the Arts and Kresge Foundation.