Photos

Mercy Holiday Celebration 2024

By Eric Dundon

It wouldn’t be the holiday season for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra without the traditional Mercy Holiday Celebration. This holiday program has become a family favorite over the years, with well-known carols mixed with new arrangements. Held in 2024 at two venues—Stifel Theatre and the J. Scheidegger Center for Performing Arts at Lindenwood University in St. Charles—the program this year was led by conductor Norman Huynh, and also featured the talents of the St. Louis Symphony Chorus and Broadway singer and actress Capathia Jenkins.

As usual, surprises along the way added to the fun of the concert. Santa made a special appearance, selecting a child from the audience to help conduct the orchestra. A special sing-along version of “The 12 Days of Christmas” enlisted vocal talent from the audience. And Jenkins charmed with her renditions of popular tunes including “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” and “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”

Photos by Virginia Harold.

Norman Huynh leads the SLSO and the St. Louis Symphony Chorus in the annual Mercy Holiday Celebration.
Santa, as always, made a special appearance.
As is tradition, a child from the audience helped Huynh conduct the orchestra in Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride.
For the orchestra members, it was an opportunity to break out holiday accessories to dress up their usual all-black ensembles.
Members of the St. Louis Symphony Chorus sang tunes including “The 12 Days of Christmas.”
Capathia Jenkins stole the show with her warm and charming vocals.
Norman Huynh is a frequent guest conductor of the SLSO.
Families took the opportunity to dress up for photos in the opulent lobby of Stifel Theatre.
Huynh leads the orchestra in Fantasia on Greensleeves by Ralph Vaughan Williams.
Santa with a smiling family.

The SLSO’s 145th season continues through May 2025. Upcoming concerts include classical favorites by Gustav Mahler, Ludwig van Beethoven, Maurice Ravel, Leonard Bernstein, and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky; films with score performed live, including Batman and Casino Royale; Concerts for Kids (designed for ages Pre-K through 12); and special collaborations like BLACKSTAR SYMPHONY: The Music of David Bowie, Beethoven X Beyoncé, and Disney Princess: The Concert.

Check out the full concert calendar here.

Eric Dundon is the SLSO’s Public Relations Director.

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