The Phoenix Symphony ushers in the 2009 holiday season with a wide array of harmonious events. While Messiah and New Year’s Eve concerts have long been a part of winter in the Valley, The Phoenix Symphony is adding a new element sure to add a warm holiday glow to its Messiahconcerts: candlelight.

The Phoenix Symphony continues its longstanding holiday tradition of performing Handel’s masterpiece, Messiah, around the Valley December 9 - 20. Virginia G. Piper Music Director Michael Christie will lead the Phoenix Symphony Baroque Ensemble in Corelli’s Christmas Concerto, and members of the Phoenix Symphony Chorus will join the ensemble for highlights from Messiah. The Baroque Initiative is sponsored by Jeanne & Gary Herberger and The Herberger Foundation.

December 9 – Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m.
Church of the Beatitudes
555 West Glendale Avenue, Phoenix
December 10 – Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m.
Rio Verde Community Church
25603 N Danny Lane, Rio Verde
December 11 – Friday evening at 7:30 p.m.
North Hills Church of God
15025 N 19th Ave, Phoenix
December 12 – Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m.
The Church at Litchfield Park
300 N Old Litchfield Rd, Litchfield Park
December 13 – Sunday evening at 7:00 p.m.
Pinnacle Presbyterian Church
25150 North Pima Road, Scottsdale
December 16 – Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m.
Central United Methodist Church
1875 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix
December 17 – Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m.
American Lutheran Church
17200 Del Webb Boulevard, Sun City
December 18 – Friday evening at 7:30 p.m.
Bethany Bible Church
6060 N. Seventh Avenue, Phoenix
December 19 – Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m.
Camelback Seventh Day Adventist
5902 East Camelback Road, Phoenix
December 20 – Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.
Mesa Arts Center
1 East Main Street, Mesa

Music Director Michael Christie will lead community musicians, members of the Phoenix Symphony Chorus, and the entire audience in highlights from Handel’s Messiah at Symphony Hall December 6 at 7:30 p.m. during the Symphony’s annual Messiah Sing-Along. Copies of the score will be available for purchase one hour prior to the event. Community instrumental musicians (strings, oboe, bassoon or trumpet) interested in playing this concert must call the Education & Community Engagement Office at 602-495-1117, ext 470.

Starting off the festive season is the Symphony’s popular Holiday Pops atSymphony Hall December 4 - 6. Resident Conductor Lawrence Golan leads these three concerts featuring the Phoenix Symphony Chorus, the Phoenix Boys Chorus and popular holiday tunes. The Friday evening concert begins at8 p.m. with a Saturday performance, sponsored by SRP, at 8 p.m. The Sunday matinee performance begins at 2 p.m. The Phoenix Symphony 2009/10 Pops Series is sponsored by APS.

Saturday, December 5 offers up Family Holiday Pops, sponsored by SRP. This 2:30 p.m. concert at Symphony Hall is preceded by pre-concert lobby activities including a special holiday craft, a meet and greet with conductor Lawrence Golan and a photo booth with Santa Claus! The Symphony Family Series is sponsored by Target.

The first of two options for New Year’s Eve is a concert inspired by music from around the world. Resident Conductor Lawrence Golan leads the orchestra on December 31, with special guests Ballet Etudes, at Symphony Hall. Each ticket for this special 7 p.m. performance includes a complimentary glass of champagne. Following the concert at Symphony Hall, join the Symphony musicians at the New Year’s Eve Gala Midnight Countdown at the Westin Kierland for dancing, sumptuous desserts and a champagne toast at midnight. Tickets are $125.

The second of two options for New Year’s Eve in the Valley is the Symphony’s annual New Year’s Eve Gala on December 31. Entitled As Time Goes By…An Evening in Casablanca, the event will take place at the Grand Ballroom of the Westin Kierland Resort and Spa in Scottsdale. Entertainment will be provided throughout the evening by New York City’sRichie Cannata and The Family, as well as The Phoenix Symphony under the baton of Resident Conductor Lawrence Golan. For tickets, call 602-452-0422.

Tickets for all concerts can be purchased by calling the Phoenix Symphony Box Office at 602-495-1999 or by visiting www.phoenixsymphony.org.

About The Phoenix Symphony: The Phoenix Symphony has been proudly serving the citizens of the Phoenix metropolitan area and Arizona since 1947. What began as an occasional group of musicians performing a handful of concerts each year (in a city of fewer than 100,000 people) today serves more than 300,000 people annually, with almost 200 concerts and presentations throughout the greater Phoenix area and beyond. 

Under the artistic leadership of Michael Christie as the Virginia G. Piper Music Director and administrative leadership of President Maryellen H. Gleason, the orchestra is overseen by the non-profit Phoenix Symphony Association under Board Chairman C.A. Howlett.

The Phoenix Symphony presents an annual season from September through the beginning of June, featuring full-length classical and pops concerts at Symphony Hall in downtown Phoenix, as well as concerts in Scottsdale, Mesa, Prescott and throughout central Arizona. The Symphony performs for more than 80,000 students and children, helping to introduce music to new generations through a variety of education and youth-engagement programs.