NMPhil celebrates the season with 'Holiday Pops!' on Dec.16

From sugar plum fairies to sleigh rides, the New Mexico Philharmonic will lead audiences into the holidays on Saturday, Dec. 16, at Popejoy Hall.

“It’s a mix of the classical things like Vivaldi, Tchaikovsky from ‘The Nutcracker.’ We have ‘(Die) Fledermaus’ from Johann Strauss,” said music director/conductor Roberto Minczuk.

“We do songs like ‘White Christmas,’ the theme from ‘The Polar Express,’ ‘Sleigh Ride,’ ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas,’ ” he added, “and a sing-along where people join us in singing the Christmas carols.”

The concert will mark the first time Minczuk has conducted a holiday show at Popejoy. Past shows have used guest conductors.

“I want to conduct the New Mexico Philharmonic as much and as often as possible,” Minczuk said. “I conduct over 20 concerts every season — close to 30 performances last season.”

NMPhil celebrates the season with 'Holiday Pops!' on Dec.16

With an abundance of holiday music to choose from, the philharmonic selects a different program each year.

“Everybody enjoys getting into the holiday mood,” Minczuk said. “It’s very festive. A lot of the musicians choose clothing in the holiday mood. Someone is giving me a special jacket this year.”

The orchestra will be joined by the Manzano Day School Chorus and the Albuquerque Youth Symphony.

The Manzano Day School Chorus is a nonauditioned group comprising the entire fourth and fifth grades. The chorus performs in multiple concerts throughout the year and a full musical play each spring.

The youth symphony is the Albuquerque Youth Symphony Program’s premier ensemble, composed of from 60-80 string, woodwind, brass and percussion players from across the Albuquerque area.