The Magic of the Holidays at Powell Hall

By Iain Shaw

For thousands of St. Louisans, a December visit to Powell Hall at the Jack C. Taylor Music Center means attending a holiday concert featuring the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and the St. Louis Symphony (SLSC) and IN UNISON (IUC) choruses. In particular, the Mercy Holiday Celebration and IN UNISON Christmas inspire individuals, families, and the community to gather, enjoy the music of the season, and share in the spirit of reflection, hope, and joy that this time of year brings.

SLSO double bassist Sarah Hogan Kaiser has performed at holiday concerts for the past 22 seasons, starting as a member of the Youth Orchestra.

“The music always seems to put everyone in such a lovely holiday spirit,” she said, whether the orchestra is performing Duke Ellington’s jazz-inflected arrangement of The Nutcracker, a timeless carol, or a major-key pop tune like “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town.”

Symphony Volunteer Association member Kathryn Norwood has volunteered as one of Santa’s helpers at the Mercy Holiday Celebration concerts every year since 2021. She loves the smiles and excitement, and enjoys seeing the families dressed in “reds and greens, sequins and sparkles.” Her role also lets her see the concerts through the eyes of some of the youngest audience members.

“These concerts may be the first time these kids are hearing an orchestra, walking into a big hall, seeing the instruments, and experiencing music during a joyous event,” she said.

Experiences like this can inspire a lifelong love of live symphonic music. IUC member and former IN UNISON Young Artist Nadia Maddex recalled her first holiday performance.

“Singing Ave Maria from the balcony with some of my best friends, and hearing the orchestra from below, is when I fell in love with the SLSO,” Maddex said. “I know these concerts have the power to inspire someone in the audience, just as I was inspired years ago.”

SLSC Director Erin Freeman said the holiday concerts she attended as a child in Atlanta are “the whole reason I’m in the business.” She works with chorus members to infuse well-worn standards with moments of magic and a spark of personality that can create indelible memories.

Holiday concerts are an opportunity to appreciate the outstanding artistry and range of the orchestra and choruses, as Hogan Kaiser pointed out, but they’re also occasions when the artists can relax and embrace the spirit of the season. Vocalist Kennedy Holmes, who will perform at this month’s Mercy Holiday Celebration, says these concerts can “feel more like a family gathering than just a performance.”

Everyone develops their own traditions around holiday concerts. Norwood makes sure she gets a photo with Santa before the crowds arrive. For Maddex, IN UNISON Christmas is the tradition.

“I couldn’t imagine the holiday season without it, and I know that the IN UNISON Chorus members and concertgoers alike would agree,” she said.

Fellow chorus member Alexandria Paul said singing gospel (a popular part of IN UNISON Christmas programming) inspires hope and gratitude during this time of reflection.

“Gospel songs are always my favorite to sing during the holidays,” Paul said.

On days when two concerts are scheduled, the orchestra has a tradition of hosting get-togethers over Irish coffees, eggnog, and cookies. Many of the musicians fondly remember Barbara Liberman, the SLSO’s beloved former principal keyboardist, expertly whipping the cream and shaving the nutmeg for the coffee. Liberman passed away in February 2025, but the tradition has stuck. Through a packed schedule, the artists keep spirits up by bringing treats to share.

“Someone’s always making a trip to Costco and bringing in a plate of cookies or chocolate pretzels,” Hogan Kaiser said.

The holiday concerts generate a sense of commonality between audience members, artists, and concert staff. Holmes recalled singing “Oh Holy Night” with the IN UNISON Chorus in 2019.

“You could feel the room shift, the audience got quiet, and it felt like everyone was taking in the same emotion together,” Holmes said. “There’s something about seeing people’s faces light up when a familiar song begins or when a lyric touches their spirit, and it meant the world to me.”

Hogan Kaiser said the harp cadenza during the “Waltz of the Flowers” from The Nutcracker is a special moment at holiday concerts she’s performed at, and there are laughs and smiles whenever a child from the audience is invited on stage to “conduct” the orchestra. Meanwhile, the percussion section’s whip-crack and trumpet player’s rendition of a horse’s whinny make the finale of “Sleigh Ride” as close to a consensus favorite as you’ll find.

“I have slight chills thinking about it,” said Norwood.

Iain Shaw is the SLSO’s Content Manager.