Day 356-The Holiday Pops- A Pittsburgh Tradition that Creates Family Memories-It Feels Like Christmas.

The Holiday POPs conducted by Daniel Meyer was an explosion of Holiday cheer. This show with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, Broadway star, Ashley Brown, Santa and more, elevates the spirit of the season.  My family, like many others, have made this event a Pittsburgh Holiday tradition. It's a show that warms the heart and produces lasting family memories. 

Reflection

Heinz Hall with its elegant architecture is always beautifully decorated for the season. The lobby's huge ornate Christmas tree splashes gold and red under the crystal chandelier and is a favorite spot for that perfect festive photo. I watched as a parade of family pictures were taken. Professional photographers from Runaway Productions delighted in assisting with photographs and emailing them to you. We joined the others posing in front of the tree for our own family memory. 

The show opened with traditional favorites, “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing” and “Angels We Have Heard on High,” that pulsated with the full sounds of the symphony and powerful Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh. My mother leaned over and whispered “this is wonderful.”

Ashley Brown with Christopher Sanders alias  Santa*

Ashley Brown beautifully sang a variety of musical selections from “Winter Wonderland,” “Chanukah Lights” to “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.”  Her impressive vocal range made her singing flow effortless as her powerhouse vocals filled the theater. 

"Swing Little Christmas" with the Point Park Treo and Attack Theater dancers*

Santa, a wonderful baritone arrived visiting children in the audience and singing "Christmas Magic." The stage was energized by The Point Park University Trio and  Attack Theater, that danced  a jitterbug to “Swinging Little Christmas Time.” Ms. Brown closed out the first half with a Holiday medley that showcased her versatility with some Mariah Carey, Dolly Parton, and Beatles, ending with a sing alone to "Feliz Navidad. It all was so much fun. 

Three Rivers Ringers with amazing precision created "Christmas Eve(Sarajevo 12/14)"* 

 The Three Rivers Ringers kicked off the second half with sweet sounding bells as they entered through the aisles accompanied by the Mendelssohn Choir during the song “I Saw Three Ships.” With amazing precision, they created the song "Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/14)” which was made famous by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Making our own family memory

 The Holiday Pops had something for everyone from the “Hallelujah Chorus” to “White Christmas.” My mother and I swayed arm in arm as we joined the traditional Christmas sing-a-long. There was nothing but happy faces everywhere. As we sang, I thought,“this feels like Christmas.”  The Holiday Pop is place where lasting memories are made.

(Holiday Pops runs December 20-22 with tickets starting at $22.00- for tickets go to pittsburghsymphony.org)

*Photos by Ed DeArmitt/Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Spiritual Sources 
The angel answered "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and power of the  Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:3


Other Sources
https://www.pittsburghsymphony.org/
https://www.themendelssohn.org/
http://www.threeriversringers.org/