Home For The Holidays

Join us for a heartwarming holiday tradition in South Bend as the Symphony, accompanied by the Michiana Festival Chorus, present “Home for the Holidays”! Immerse yourself in a spectacular program of beloved Christmas carols and memorable seasonal tunes that are sure to fill your heart with joy and bring back cherished memories. Experience the magic of the holiday season through the enchanting sounds of the Symphony as we bring you a heartwarming celebration of music and togetherness.

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Program

Randol Bass

Joy to the World

Rimsky-Korsakov

Christmas Eve Polonaise

Coleridge-Taylor, arr. Baynes

Christmas Overture, Op.74, no.1 S.

Schwarz/Young

We are Lights

Sibelius

III. Alla Marcia from Karelia Suite

Randol Bass

“The Night Before Christmas” narrated by John Paul

Rutter

Twelve Days of Christmas

Randol Bass

Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town and Jingle Bells

– Intermission –

Wendel

We Need a Little Christmas

Herbert

Toyland and March of Toys

Tchaikovsky

March, Chinese Dance, and Trepak from The Nutcracker with Southold Dance Theater

Williams

Somewhere in My Memory

Anderson

Bugler’s Holiday

Anderson

Sleigh Ride

Randol Bass

White Christmas

Roberston

O Come All Ye Faithful

Sing Along

White Christmas

I’m dreaming of a White Christmas,

just like the ones I used to know,

Where the tree-tops glisten and children listen

to hear sleigh bells in the snow.

Oh, I’m dreaming of a White Christmas,

with every Christmas card I write,

May your days be merry and bright,

and may all your Christmases be white.

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, Christ the Lord.

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,

Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above:

Glory to God eternal in the highest;

O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

Yea, Lord we greet Thee, born this happy morning,

Jesus, to Thee be all glory giv’n;

Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing,

O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

About Music Director Alastair Willis

Grammy-nominated conductor Alastair Willis is the Music Director of the South Bend Symphony Orchestra, and Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor of The Symphonia Boca Raton.  In past seasons, Willis has guest conducted orchestras around the world including the Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Mexico City Philharmonic, Orquestra Sinfonica de Rio de Janeiro, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchestra Berlin, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, China National Orchestra (Beijing), and Silk Road Ensemble (with Yo-Yo Ma) among others.  His recording of Ravel’s “L’Enfant et les Sortileges” with Nashville Symphony and Opera for Naxos was Grammy nominated for Best Classical Album in 2009. 

Last season Willis was re-engaged by the Chicago Symphony, Qatar Philharmonic, and Salute to Vienna, and made his Vienna debut with the Vienna Opera Ball Orchestra.  This season he returns to the Qatar Philharmonic and Salute to Vienna and makes his debut with Vienna’s Imperial Philharmonic.  

Previous positions include Music Director of the Illinois Symphony, Principal Guest Conductor with the Florida Orchestra’s Coffee Concert series, Associate Conductor of the Seattle Symphony, Assistant Conductor with the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestras, and Music Director of the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra.  

Born in Acton, Massachusetts, Willis lived with his family in Moscow for five years before settling in Surrey, England.  He received his bachelor’s degree with honors from England’s Bristol University, an education degree from Kingston University, and a Master of Music from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music.  Willis currently resides in South Bend, Indiana, with his wife and daughter. 

About the IU South Bend Choral Union

The IU South Bend Choral Union is the premier choral ensemble at Indiana University South Bend. Currently, under the direction of Dr. Jorge Muñiz, it has featured multiple collaborations with the IU South Bend Philharmonic, the South Bend Symphony Orchestra, and various community choirs in the Michiana Area. During the past few years, the IU South Bend Choral Union has performed twice at Carnegie Hall in New York City and the White House, among other venues. More recently, on October 24, 2023, it celebrated the 100th anniversary of legendary American composer Ned Rorem with a tribute concert at IU South Bend. 

About the Elkhart Community Chorus

The Elkhart Community Chorus was originally conceived by Becky Wagner-Schooley as the Elkhart High School Alumni Choir, made up of former Elkhart High School choir members. The choir sang at the opening of the historic Lerner Theater (formerly the ELCO Theater) on June 16, 2011. After the performance at The Lerner, the members decided to continue the group and open the membership to anyone who loves to sing and rename the group the Elkhart Community Chorus. The choir performs regularly around the community, collaborating with other choral groups and instrumentalists. Juan Carlos Alarcon serves as music director. 

About the South Bend Symphonic Choir

The South Bend Symphonic Choir was organized in 1967 to perform as a component of the South Bend Symphony Orchestra. In 1977, the Choir became its own entity and became The Ensemble in Residence at Indiana University South Bend, offering students a chance to sing and perform with the ensemble.
Over the past 50 years, the Choir has performed with several local orchestra and the internationally renowned Kirov Orchestra from St. Petersburg, Russia at Orchestra Hall in Chicago.
Since 2008, under the leadership of Dr. Marvin Curtis, the Choir has continued to perform with The South Bend Symphony Orchestra and on its own. The Choir made history on December 21, 2009 when it performed a ninety-minute concert in the Grand Foyer of The White House. In 2016 and 2019, the Choir performed in concerts at Carnegie Hall.

Musicians

Meet the musicians here!

Valet Parking

Skip the line in the parking garage when you pre-pay for the new valet parking service! For $25, pull your car up to the Morris Performing Arts Center and SOPHI will take care of the rest. 

• Valet will be available on the North Side of the Morris. 
• Customers, pull in from MLK Blvd. onto Michigan St. where the SOPHI team will be set up to take in cars (signs will also be available for guidance). 

• Once you are finished with the show, vehicle pick up will be on the north side of building. 
• To which you will then exit your vehicle onto Main St. 

To PRE-PAY, use this link: https://tinyurl.com/SymphonyAtTheMorris 

Sponsor

Thank you to Everwise Credit Union for proudly presenting the 2023-24 Home for the Holidays

Thank you to Jordan Lexus of Mishawaka for being the proud artistic sponsor of the 2023-24 Season

Program subject to change.