Home for the Holidays: Alexandria Symphony Presents Festive Performances Dec. 17 and 19

ALEXANDRIA, VA – The Alexandria Symphony Orchestra (ASO) will present a holiday program Friday, December 17, 2021 (7:30 p.m.) at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center and Sunday, December 19, 2021 (3:00 p.m.) at the George Washington Masonic Memorial.

Under the direction of Music Director James Ross, the program will include excerpts from Handel’s Messiah and familiar holiday carols and melodies. For Friday’s performance, dancers from BalletNova take the stage with selections from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker interspersed with music from Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite. All children attending will be provided with sleigh bells for a surprise audience participation activity.

“We are so proud and glad to be ringing in the holiday season this year like a tasty fruitcake with lively Baroque chestnuts, carols to hum-along, some Duke Ellington to munch, sleighbells to jingle, and a special appearance by BalletNova,” says Maestro Ross. “It all melts on your tongue. Rumor has it Twas the Night before Christmas may make an appearance as well in a version never-to-be-repeated but not-to-be missed!”

BalletNova Center for Dance has long been recognized as one of the premier dance training centers in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. region. The organization, now with over 1,300 students, is based on elements from the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) and American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum syllabus across all levels of children’s pre-professional classical ballet curriculum.

Out of an abundance of caution, audience members, musicians, staff, and volunteers are required to wear a mask during performances. ASO is also requiring all attendees, musicians, volunteers and staff be fully-vaccinated, including children. Alexandria Symphony Orchestra is committed to providing a safe concert environment for our patrons, musicians and staff. The concerts will be presented with no intermission. Schlesinger Concert Hall has been completely overhauled with a state-of-the-art ventilation system. ASO will communicate with ticket buyers well in advance of each performance to establish what specific safety measures will be required to attend.

Both venues are currently operating at 100%. Seating is very limited at the George Washington Masonic Memorial, so book your tickets early.

Adult tickets start at $20. Military, senior, student and group discounts are also available. To order tickets and for more information, visit this link or call (703) 548-0885.

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