“Holiday Pops” With The ASO Promises Two Unforgettable Performances

Opera singer, concert vocalist and Archbishop Spalding graduate Katherine Sanford Schrock will add extra sparkle to the annual tradition.

Photo Provided

Under the baton of conductor and artistic director José-Luis Novo, the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra will play “Holiday Pops” at Maryland Hall and Severna Park High School this December.

Photo courtesy of Richard Brown

Posted Wednesday, November 27, 2024 11:22 am

“Ding, dong, ding, dong.”

Christmas is here, bringing good cheer, and so is the annual Annapolis Symphony Orchestra (ASO) “Holiday Pops” concert.

Mykola Dmytrovych’s “Carol of the Bells” is one of the many traditional and contemporary tunes audiences can look forward to when “Holiday Pops” is performed at Maryland Hall on December 13 at 7:30pm. New this year, a matinee show is scheduled for December 14 at 3:00pm at Severna Park High School.

Adding extra sparkle to this annual affair is Katherine Sanford Schrock, the opera singer, concert vocalist and Archbishop Spalding graduate returning to Anne Arundel County for the concert.

Sanford Schrock is a July 2024 inductee into the Archbishop Spalding High School Fine Arts Hall of Fame. Before moving from Annapolis to Virginia Beach, Virginia, she was a frequent cantor at St. Mary’s Catholic Church and the United States Naval Academy Brigade of Midshipmen Chapel.

“There’s no better feeling than doing what I love in my hometown,” Sanford Schrock said. “Performing with an orchestra is an extraordinary experience for any vocalist, and I’m very much looking forward to collaborating with the ASO during such a special time of year. Sharing these concerts with my family and friends in Annapolis is a dream.”

Sanford Schrock will be featured as the solo vocalist alongside 70 ASO musicians, all under the baton of conductor and artistic director José-Luis Novo.

“We’re thrilled to celebrate the upcoming holidays with a concert program featuring a delightful mix of cherished holiday classics and attractive symphonic arrangements that embody the season’s spirit,” Novo said. “I'm especially excited to showcase the exceptional talent of local soprano Katherine Sanford Schrock, whose beautiful voice will bring heartwarming holiday-inspired tunes to the stage. Audiences can expect some surprises and quite a bit more fun than they're used to from an orchestra — this is truly magical music.”

The program includes traditional music from Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's “The Nutcracker” and Johann Strauss Jr.'s “Die Fledermaus,” as well as popular music including Irving Berlin's “White Christmas,” J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie’s “Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town,” and Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn's jazzy rendition of “The Nutcracker Suite” overture, a playful and innovative reimagining of Tchaikovsky's classic that features bold swinging rhythms and clever reorchestration.

During a singalong with the audience, Luis Novo will lead the orchestra and Sanford Schrock will lead the crowd. Santa will also make an appearance.

All are welcome, including the “young and old, meek and the bold.” Find “Holiday Pops” tickets on the ASO website.

Students can get $10 tickets for either the Maryland Hall or Severna Park performance, but those tickets cannot be purchased online. Call the box office at 410-263-0907 to access student pricing. Proof of student status is required.