The Holidays Begin at Jones Hall with 12 Days of Christmas and Appearance by Santa

The Houston Symphony along with the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts Chorale is celebrating the start of the holiday season at 10 and 11:30 a.m. Dec. 3. with a celebration of the classic 12 Days of Christmas, an interactive audience-participation family program featuring beloved holiday classics.

Led by Associate Conductor Robert Franz, the program includes holiday favorites including time-honored carols "We Three Kings" and "Sleigh Ride." The program also features Tchaikovsky's recognizable Russian Dance from his celebrated ballet, The Nutcracker, a beloved Christmas favorite.

Also on the program is "The Twelve Days of Christmas," an English Christmas carol that enumerates each gift given in the twelve days of Christmas (calling birds, French hens, turtle doves, a partridge in a pear tree, etc.). This portion of the program will encourage audience participation from stage, which will be followed by a special appearance by Santa Claus. The hour-long concert ends with a Christmas sing-along.

An instrument petting zoo, which allows children to hold and play orchestral instruments, as well as a craft activity will be offered in the lobby beginning one hour before the 10 a.m. concert and immediately following the 11:30 a.m. concert. Franzalways shows up dressed in character, and audiences are encouraged to do the same. Elves, reindeers and angels costumes are encouraged for this program.

The concert will take place at Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, 615 Louisiana Street, in Houston's Theater District. For tickets and information, please call (713) 224-7575 or visit www.houstonsymphony.org. Tickets may also be purchased at the Houston Symphony Patron Services Center in Jones Hall (Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.). All programs and artists are subject to change.

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016, 10 a.m.

Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016, 11:30 a.m.

Robert Franz, conductor

The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts Chorale

Shannon Carter and Julia Hall, directors

Pat Bonner, vocal music chair

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