THE SEATTLE SYMPHONY BRINGS HOLIDAY CHEER FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY WITH SEVEN SPIRITED CONCERTS
PERFORMANCES INCLUDE THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, THE SNOWMAN, TINY TOTS, HOLIDAY POPS, HANDEL’S MESSIAH, BEETHOVEN’S NINTH SYMPHONY AND A NEW YEAR’S EVE CONCERT & PARTY
Seattle, WA – The Seattle Symphony invites the community to Benaroya Hall to celebrate this year’s holiday season with a wide variety of concert offerings suitable for the whole family. This winter season sees the return of seasonal favorites and holiday staples, including feature films, Disney in Concert: Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas and The Snowman, accompanied live by the Symphony, as well as Tiny Tots, Holiday Pops, Handel’s Messiah and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. The Symphony looks forward to the return of in-person performances for the full suite of holiday programs, which has not happened since 2019.
The Symphony will be joined by the Seattle Symphony Chorale, as well an all-star cast of guest artists, for Handel’s Messiah and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. For the decades-long tradition of Handel’s Messiah at Benaroya Hall, soloists include soprano Nicole Cabell, contralto Sara Couden, tenor Steven Soph and bass Damien Geter. More exciting guest vocalists join the orchestra for Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, including soprano Laura Strickling, mezzo-soprano Mary Phillips, tenor Nicholas Phan and baritone Hadleigh Adams.
Holiday Concerts
December 1, 3 and 4: The Symphony presents Disney in Concert: Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, one of Tim Burton’s most celebrated films, projected in its entirety on the big screen while the orchestra performs Danny Elfman’s darkly charming score in its entirety live.
December 3: The Snowman revives the favorite holiday tradition of this classic children’s film as accompanied by the Symphony, with Douglas F. King Assistant Conductor Sunny Xia at the podium. Featuring the Northwest Boychoir Apprentices, this event is a sing-along for the whole family.
December 10: At Tiny Tots concerts, musicians share their favorite stories, songs and musical games, introducing instruments of the orchestra to the youngest listeners (ages 0–5). The Winter Wonderland: Woodwind Quintet performances include pre-concert activities in the Samuel & Althea Stroum Grand Lobby, this season featuring a xylophone orchestra, reading station, percussion play area and a concert-specific craft.
December 9, 10 and 11: This year’s exciting and dazzling Holiday Pops concert sees the return of conductor Stuart Chafetz, who is well known for his signature Pops conducting style, joined by vocalist Dee Donasco for a program full of holiday favorites and traditional carols.
December 16, 17 and 18: Back for the unparalleled December tradition, Handel’s Messiah returns for its first in-person performance at Benaroya Hall in three years, featuring the multi-talented conductor and vocalist Sofi Jeannin. Showcasing exquisite choral writing and the exultant “Hallelujah” chorus, the Symphony, Chorale and an acclaimed cast of soloists join together to honor one of Handel’s greatest works.
December 28, 29 and 30: The beauty and drama of Beethoven’s monumental Ninth Symphony returns to Benaroya Hall with conductor David Danzmayr leading the Symphony and more renowned guest soloists. This awe-inspiring masterpiece, with its crowning jewel of the “Ode to Joy” chorus, punctuates 2022 in three powerful performances.
December 31: The holiday programs finish with the biggest event of the month, the New Year’s Eve Concert, Countdown & Party. Following the concert, audiences are invited to celebrate at the after party and ring in the new year with champagne and dancing to the jazzy sounds of electro-swing band Good Co. in the Samuel & Althea Stroum Grand Lobby.
Ticket Information
For more information on tickets for this season’s holiday performances, please visit seattlesymphony.org or contact the Seattle Symphony Ticket Office. The Seattle Symphony Ticket Office is located in Benaroya Hall, at Third Avenue and Union Street. The Ticket Office can be reached by phone at 206.215.4747 during the following times: Tuesday–Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
SUSIE BENCHASIL SEITER | CONDUCTOR
Susie Benchasil Seiter is a prolific conductor and orchestrator for film, television, video games and live concerts. She recently completed a worldwide orchestra tour as conductor and music director for multiple Grammy-winning Evanescence and Billboard Music Award winner and YouTube sensation, Lindsey Stirling.
Seiter is perhaps best known for orchestrating and conducting the remarkably successful orchestral concert tours The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses and Pokémon: Symphonic Evolutions. Combined, these tours have been performed more than 300 times by some of the world’s most respected orchestras. In 2015 alone, she conducted over 60 orchestras, including the Royal Philharmonic at London’s Apollo Hammersmith, The Orchestra of St. Luke’s at Madison Square Garden, the National Symphony Orchestra at Wolf Trap, and the Sydney Symphony at the iconic Sydney Opera House. Seiter excels in leading popular symphonic film concerts such as Frozen Live and Pixar in Concert.
SUNNY XIA | CONDUCTOR
Recognized for her innate musicality, compelling presence and technical precision, conductor Sunny Xuecong Xia’s ability to forge an immediate and captivating connection with orchestras and audiences alike has led to engagements around the country. Recently appointed Douglas F. King Assistant Conductor of the Seattle Symphony, Xia began her new position in September 2022. In the 2021/2022 season, Xia was selected as Conducting Fellow at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, where she made her festival debut leading the world premiere of Marc Migó Cortés’ Dumka in July 2022. She led a production of La bohème with the Chandler Opera Company to great success and served as Assistant Conductor of the Phoenix Youth Symphony Orchestra. A dynamic advocate for contemporary music, Xia will be leading the Seattle Symphony in works by composers Katy Abbott, Chen Yi, Quinn Mason, Angelique Poteat, Gabriella Smith and Tan Dun in the 2022/2023 season.
STUART CHAFETZ | CONDUCTOR
Stuart Chafetz is the Principal Pops Conductor of the Columbus Symphony and the newly appointed Principal Pops Conductor of the Chautauqua and Marin Symphonies. Chafetz, a conductor celebrated for his dynamic and engaging podium presence, is increasingly in demand with orchestras across the continent and this season Chafetz will be on the podium in Detroit, Houston, Milwaukee, Naples, Philly Pops, Cincinnati Pops and Pittsburgh. He enjoys a special relationship with The Phoenix Symphony, where he leads multiple programs annually.
SOFI JEANNIN | CONDUCTOR
Renowned for her beautifully clear and succinct technique, and with a formidable repertoire knowledge and understanding across all genres, Swedish-born Sofi Jeannin has established herself as one of the finest and most respected choral specialists around today. Currently Chief Conductor of the BBC Singers and Music Director of la Maîtrise de Radio France, Jeannin was previously Music Director of the Choeur de Radio France, a post she took up in 2015..
Through her work with the French Radio Chorus — the largest professional symphonic chorus in Europe— Jeannin became the collaborative conductor of choice for a number of prominent figures, including Gustavo Dudamel, Bernard Haitink, Christoph Eschenbach and Valery Gergiev, collaborating with orchestras such as l’Orchestre National de France, l’Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
DAVID DANZMAYR | CONDUCTOR
David Danzmayr is widely regarded as one of the most talented and exciting European conductors to emerge from his generation. As the newly appointed Music Director of the Oregon Symphony, Danzmayr will begin his tenure there at the start of the 2021/22 season. Danzmayr also stands at the helm of the versatile and innovative Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra Columbus - having been that ensemble’s Music Director for the past ten years; and he holds the title of Honorary Conductor of the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, an orchestra with whom he served as Chief Conductor for the past four seasons — leading the Zagreb musicians on several European tours with acclaimed concerts in Salzburg and the Vienna Musikverein.
SEATTLE SYMPHONY CHORALE
Over its past four decades, the Chorale has grown in artistry and stature, establishing itself as a highly respected ensemble. Critics have described the Chorale’s work as “beautiful, prayerful, expressive,” “superb” and “robust,” and have praised it for its “impressive clarity and precision.” The Chorale’s volunteer members, who are teachers, doctors, attorneys, musicians, students, bankers and professionals from all fields, bring not only musical excellence, but a sheer love of music and performance to their endeavor. Directed by Joseph Crnko, Associate Conductor for Choral Activities, the Chorale performs with the Seattle Symphony both onstage and in recorded performances.
SEATTLE SYMPHONY
The Seattle Symphony unleashes the power of music, brings people together and lifts the human spirit. Recognized as one of the “most vital American orchestras” (NPR), the Seattle Symphony is internationally acclaimed for its inventive programming, community-minded initiatives and superb recordings on the Seattle Symphony Media label. With a strong commitment to new music and a legacy of over 150 recordings, the orchestra has garnered five Grammy Awards, 27 Grammy nominations, two Emmy Awards and was named Gramophone’s 2018 Orchestra of the Year. The Symphony performs in Benaroya Hall in the heart of downtown Seattle from September through July, reaching over 750,000 people annually through live performances and radio broadcasts, and through the Seattle Symphony Live streaming service, the orchestra’s concerts reach audiences at home and around the world.
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THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS
HOLIDAY SPECIALS
Thursday, December 1, at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 3, at 8 p.m.
Sunday, December 4, at 2 p.m.
Susie Benchasil Seiter conductor
Danny Elfman The Nightmare Before Christmas
THE SNOWMAN
FAMILY CONCERTS
Saturday, December 3, at 11 a.m.
Pre-concert activities begin at 10 a.m.
Sunny Xia conductor
Northwest Boychoir, Apprentices
Mason Quinn Christmas Eve Festivities
Eddie Wyle, George Pola It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Cohon “Hanerot Halalu”
Pierpont “Jingle Bells”
Leontovych “Carol of the Bells”
Traditional “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”
Howard Blake The Snowman
HOLIDAY POPS
POPS SERIES
Friday, December 9, at 8 p.m.
Saturday, December 10, at 8 p.m.
Sunday, December 11, at 2 p.m.
Stuart Chafetz conductor
Dee Donasco soprano
WINTER WONDERLAND: WOODWIND QUINTET
TINY TOTS
Saturday, December 10, at 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30 a.m.
Pre-concert activities begin 30-minutes prior to each performance
John Turman host
Jeffrey Barker flute
Winnie Lai oboe
Eric Jacob clarinet
Danielle Kuhlmann horn
Kipras Mazeika bassoon
Valerie Coleman Umoja: The First Day of Kwanza
Valerie Coleman “Jingle Bells”
Prokofiev Arr. Bussik Troika from Lieutenant Kijé, Op. 60
Abeling You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch
Anderson Arr. Lin Y.E. Sleigh Ride
HANDEL MESSIAH
HOLIDAY SPECIALS
Friday, December 16, at 8 p.m.
Saturday, December 17, at 1 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Sunday, December 18, at 2 p.m.
Sofi Jeannin conductor
Nicole Cabell soprano
Sara Couden contralto
Steven Soph tenor
Damien Geter bass
Seattle Symphony Chorale
Handel Messiah
BEETHOVEN SYMPHONY NO. 9
HOLIDAY SPECIALS
Wednesday, December 28, at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 29, at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, December 30, at 8 p.m.
David Danzmayr conductor
Laura Strickling soprano
Mary Phillips mezzo-soprano
Nicholas Phan tenor
Hadleigh Adams baritone
Seattle Symphony Chorale
L. Boulanger Vieille prière bouddhique
Beethoven Symphony No. 9, "Choral"
NEW YEAR’S EVE CONCERT, COUNTDOWN & PARTY
HOLIDAY SPECIALS
Saturday, December 31, at 9 p.m.
David Danzmayr conductor
Laura Strickling soprano
Mary Phillips mezzo-soprano
Nicholas Phan tenor
Hadleigh Adams baritone
Seattle Symphony Chorale
L. Boulanger Vieille prière bouddhique
Beethoven Symphony No. 9, “Choral”
Sunny Xia’s position is generously underwritten as the Douglas F. King Assistant Conductor.
Seattle Symphony Family Programs are supported by The Klorfine Foundation.
Delta Air Lines proudly supports the Seattle Symphony’s Community Partnerships for Youth and Education. The Seattle Symphony’s Family, School & Community programs are supported by 4Culture, Marco Argenti, ArtsFund, the Merriman-Ross Family, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture, the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, and individual contributions to the Seattle Symphony Annual Fund.
2022/2023 Pops Series Sponsor: The John & Ginny Meisenbach Foundation
Handel’s Messiah is generously sponsored by Stephen Whyte in memory of Gwendolyn Jones Whyte.
Sofi Jeannin’s performances are generously sponsored by Sue and Robert Collett.
David Danzmayr’s performances are generously sponsored by Neil M. Gray and Meagan M. Foley.