Tuesday, November 26, 2024 (Ann Arbor, MI) — The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra (A2SO) is bringing the sounds of the season to one of Southeast Michigan’s premier performance venues, with some help from special guests.
On Saturday, December 21, acclaimed jazz vocalist Olivia Van Goor and men’s choir Measure for Measure will join the orchestra and A2SO Music Director Earl Lee for their Holiday Pops 2024 performance. Special guest Carl Grapentine – “The Voice of the Michigan Marching Band” and longtime play-by-play announcer for Michigan Wolverines football – will narrate The Night Before Christmas.
Now in its 13th year, the A2SO’s annual Holiday Pops concert consistently draws some of the largest audiences of the year to Hill Auditorium. A2SO Executive Director Sarah Calderini explains: “The holiday season in Ann Arbor is a special time, and we’re proud to be part of the festivities since launching these concerts in 2012. The variety, energy, and approachability of our programming have been key to Holiday Pops’ success, and this year is no exception. With (A2SO Music Director) Earl Lee making his Holiday Pops debut, this promises to be a spectacular evening of music with some very special guests.”
The program will feature music from Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Nutcracker, Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride and A Christmas Festival, a selection from Disney’s animated winter smash-hit Frozen, plus jazz-infused numbers and orchestra-choir partnerships with soloist Olivia Van Goor and choir Measure for Measure.
Doors to Hill Auditorium open at 5:30 PM, and the Holiday Pops concert begins at 7 PM. Guests are invited to arrive early for red-carpet photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, starting at 6:30 PM. Discounted tickets are available for kids, students, and groups of 10 or more. Tickets can be reserved online at www.a2so.org or by calling (734) 994-4801.
Olivia Van Goor, a recipient of the “Best Vocalist” award from the Preservation of Jazz Excellence Awards in Detroit, is a highly regarded jazz vocalist, bandleader, arranger, and composer. Known for her performances in Ann Arbor, Toledo, Cleveland, Chicago, and Pittsburgh, Van Goor has released two EPs: When the Shadows Fall (2021) and Don’t Be Mad At Me (2023).
Carl Grapentine, an alumnus of the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, has been the voice of the Michigan Marching Band since 1970, with his iconic announcements heard during national broadcasts of 17 Rose Bowls and numerous other bowl games. He also serves as the game announcer at Michigan Stadium and has enjoyed a 46-year career as a classical music radio host, including 30 years hosting the Morning Program on WFMT in Chicago and 13 years at WQRS in Detroit.
Founded in 1988 by alumni from the University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club, Measure for Measure promotes men’s choral singing through concerts, collaborations, and partnerships. The group has toured throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe, and has partnered with numerous other university choruses and renowned artists including George Shirley, Ara Berberian, Glenda Kirkland, and Jennifer Larson.
Concert details:
Holiday Pops 2024
Hill Auditorium
825 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra
Earl Lee, Music Director
Olivia Van Goor, vocalist
Carl Grapentine, narrator
Measure for Measure
Concert co-sponsors: Bank of Ann Arbor and Tom & Debby McMullen
Box Office services begin at 5:30 PM. Concert begins at 7 PM and lasts approximately 2 hours incl. a 20-minute intermission.
More info at https://a2so.org/holiday-pops-2024
(734) 994-4801