The San Antonio Symphony’s holiday season is winding down, but there's yet another performance that maybe you shouldn't miss. This Friday and Saturday night at the Majestic Theater, the annual "Holiday Pops" concert closes the seasonal performances. San Antonio Mastersinger and Board Member Chancey Blackburn is excited about the shows.
"Holiday Pops is for the fun of the season, for families to come in and enjoy things like 'The Twelve Days of Christmas,' and 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas,' but mixed in we also have a gospel spiritual. And we have three wonderful carols from South America that we’re singing, in Spanish of course!"
John Silantien Directs the San Antonio Mastersingers, and we asked him if performing with the symphony is a thrill.
"Yes, it always is. We’ve got some really great arrangements this year that the chorus is doing with the symphony. 'The Twelve days of Christmas' is a very clever arrangement by Mack Wilberg--he’s the conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and an excellent arranger."
The 120-voice San Antonio Mastersingers will share the bill with the San Antonio Symphony, conducted by Akiko Fujimoto, as well as the Trinity University Handbell Ensemble. Blackburn says the Mastersingers' objective in Holiday Pops is simple:
"To give [the audience] something moving and memorable and fills them with joy."
And as to the San Antonio Mastersingers’ heavy holiday singing schedule…
"We are working our voices!"
See for yourself on Friday or Saturday night.
