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Take a Look Back at the SLSO’s 2025 Holiday Season

By Eric Dundon

“Casual yet classical, rousing and rapturous, the SLSO’s return to Powell Hall proved that there is no place like home.” That’s what The Arts STL had to say about the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s New Year’s Eve Celebration concert, which capped off an extraordinary year for the orchestra that saw it return to its expanded and renovated concert home.

To conclude 2025, the orchestra gave a slate of holiday concerts that brightened spirits, provided laughs, and warm the hearts of thousands. The holiday season saw the anticipated return of traditional favorites: the Mercy Holiday Celebration, the IN UNISON Christmas concert, and the New Year’s Eve Celebration. Each of these programs, while familiar, held surprises. The orchestra and IN UNISON Chorus were joined by gospel legends, the Clark Sisters, for IN UNISON Christmas. Both the St. Louis Symphony Chorus and St. Louis Children’s Choirs sang alongside the orchestra. And guests enjoyed the beautifully decorated lobby of the new Jack C. Taylor Music Center.

Here is a look back on the SLSO’s 2025 holiday season.

December 18-19: The legendary Clark Sisters, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Jacky Clark Chisholm, and Karen Clark Sheard, joined the SLSO and the St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON Chorus for IN UNISON Christmas, an annual tradition that fuses holiday favorites with gospel traditions. (Photo by Phillip Hamer)
December 18-19: The IN UNISON Chorus, one of two resident SLSO choruses, sings alongside the orchestra in its annual IN UNISON Christmas concert. (Photo by Phillip Hamer)
December 18-19: The popularity of IN UNISON Christmas has grown over the years, necessitating two concerts in 2025. (Photo by Phillip Hamer)
December 18-19: Members of the IN UNISON Chorus Bekah Ford and Johnny Gillings Jr., step out for solos in an a cappella arrangement of “This Little Light of Mine.” (Photo by Phillip Hamer)
December 18-19: Charles Stancil steps forward for a solo in “You Brought Us Peace” while Kevin McBeth leads the orchestra and chorus. (Photo by Phillip Hamer)
December 21: Stuart Malina leads the orchestra and St. Louis Symphony Chorus in the Mercy Holiday Celebration, an annual tradition that includes holiday music from a variety of backgrounds. (Photo by Dusty Kessler)
December 21: Santa Claus made his usual appearance during the concert, spreading cheer and bringing a smile to all. (Photo by Dusty Kessler)
December 21: Kennedy Holmes, St. Louis native and frequent SLSO guest, joined the orchestra for her second stint as Mercy Holiday Celebration guest artist, singing a variety of tunes from traditional carols to Broadway songs. (Photo by Dusty Kessler)
December 21: First violinists Dustin Wilkes-Kim (left) and Charlie Lin warm up before the concert. (Photo by Dusty Kessler)
December 21: Principal Percussionist Will James. (Photo by Dusty Kessler)
December 21: Assistant Concertmaster Hannah Ji warms up while Powell Hall begins to fill with audience members. (Photo by Dusty Kessler)
December 21: The St. Louis Symphony Chorus joined the orchestra for the sedon year in a row. (Photo by Justin Staggs)
December 21: As is tradition, Santa Claus selected a child from the audience to conducting a crowd favorite: Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride. (Photo by Justin Staggs)
December 21: Holiday decoration illuminate the new entrance to the Jack C. Taylor Music Center. (Photo by Justin Staggs)
December 27: Performances of the score to Home Alone were a hit for the entire family. (Photo by Jon Gitchoff)
December 27: For Home Alone in Concert, the St. Louis Children’s Choirs joined the orchestra. (Photo by Jon Gitchoff)
December 27: Jennifer Nitchman, normally the SLSO’s second flutist, picked up her piccolo for Home Alone in Concert. (Photo by Jon Gitchoff)
December 27: Powell Hall was sold out for presentation of Home Alone in Concert with the orchestra performing the score live. (Photo by Jon Gitchoff)
December 27: Principal Cello Daniel Lee. (Photo by Jon Gitchoff)
December 31: Music Director Stéphane Denève exits the stage following Leonard Bernstein’s Candide Overture, the opening work at the SLSO’s annual New Year’s Eve Celebration. (Photo by Tyler Small)
December 31: Audiences enjoy the splendidly decorated lobby of the Jack C. Taylor Music Center for the final time of the 2025 holiday season. (Photo by Tyler Small)
December 21: Powell Hall was awash in red, green, and gold, while the stage was lined with poinsettias. (Photo by Justin Staggs)
December 31: The Wightman Grand Foyer in the original 1925 building was decked out in traditional holiday style. (Photo by Tyler Small)
December 31: Denève leads the orchestra in the final performance of 2025: George Gershwin’s An American in Paris. (Photo by Tyler Small)
December 31: Associate Concertmaster Erin Schreiber greets her orchestra colleagues. (Photo by Tyler Small)
December 31: Music Director Stéphane Denève acknowledges the orchestra following selections from Georges Bizet’s L’Arlésienne. Denève programmed the annual concert to feature French and American music. (Photo by Tyler Small)

Eric Dundon is the SLSO’s Public Relations Director.

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