Following a pause last year in the wake of the pandemic, musicians are returning to area stages to once again perform holiday music for the masses. Count the players who comprise the Frisco Community Band (FCB) among them.</p
p>Since 2004, the band – whose 50-plus members are volunteers, including amateur and professional musicians – and its smaller ensemble groups have performed throughout Frisco, staging several concerts annually. </p
p>Like most live-performance groups, its schedule essentially came to a halt in early 2020. With the exception of a handful of performances by its flute, brass, clarinet and saxophone ensembles and another virtual performance, FCB was silenced until late this summer, when all of its musicians reunited and began rehearsals for its Back to School concert that was staged in September.</p
p>Since early November, the band has been preparing for Christmas in Frisco, its holiday concert slated for 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6 at Centennial High School, 6901 Coit Road. Admission to the performance is free. Additional details are available at friscocommunityband.org. </p
p>The band has a trio of concerts scheduled in 2022, including one honoring the music of African-American composers on Feb. 24; its spring concert on April 21; and its annual Memorial Day performance May 30 at Frisco Commons Park. </p
p>FCB President Kathy O’Connor could not be more excited about rejoining her fellow musicians onstage for the annual holiday concert – similar to when the group gathered in August for its first rehearsals in more than a year. “Everybody was just so happy to be there. You could feel it.” </p
p>O’Connor began playing the flute and piccolo decades ago as a fifth-grade student in South Texas. A former member of the University of Texas at Austin’s Longhorn Band, she graduated and went on to work as a pharmacist for 32 years before retiring. </p
p>In 2013, she attended a FBC rehearsal and has been performing with the group ever since (the band welcomes new members who wish to join). Three years ago, she was appointed president by its founding conductor and Director Emeritus Dr. Daryl Trent. </p
p>FCB, under the direction of current Co-Directors Christian Holzer (also the band director at Lawler Middle School) and Benjamin Kelly (director of bands at Trent Middle School), is slated to perform several holiday favorites during the concert including the classics Sleigh Ride and Christmas Festival by composer Leroy Anderson. </p
p>O’Connor calls holiday music “a wonderful tradition. Almost all of us have been singing these songs since we were very, very young and it just brings back happy memories of wonderful times – times with family and friends.” </p
p>Outside of Frisco, a slew of holiday-music concerts – including those on this non-inclusive list – featuring area bands and orchestras as well as chart-topping singers and legendary performance groups are scheduled this season throughout the Metroplex.
</p
p>December 3 </p
p>All Star Christmas </p
p>7 p.m. </p
p>McKinney Performing Arts Center,</p
p>111 N. Tennessee St., McKinney</p
p>The McKinney Philharmonic Orchestra presents its fourth-annual Christmas concert featuring holiday tunes with original arrangements.</p
p>mckinneyphilharmonic.org</p
p>
</p
p>December 3-6, 9-12 </p
p>Dallas Symphony Christmas Pops</p
p>Showtimes vary </p
p>Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, 2301 Flora St., Dallas</p
p>Lawrence Loh conducts the DSO as it performs classical holiday favorites and sing-along carols with vocalists Ava Pine and Reginald Smith, Jr. and the Dallas Symphony Chorus. </p
p>dallassymphony.org</p
p>
</p
p>December 4 </p
p>Holiday Classics with The Richardson Community Chorale</p
p>8 p.m. </p
p>Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts and Corporate Presentations, 2351 Performance Drive, Richardson </p
p>The Richardson Community Chorale will perform favorite holiday songs. </p
p>eisemanncenter.com</p
p>
</p
p>December 6 </p
p>Christmas With Cantus</p
p>7:30 p.m. </p
p>Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, 2301 Flora St., Dallas </p
p>The all-male vocal ensemble will sing classic holiday carols with narrated passages The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree and How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, among others. </p
p>dallassymphony.org</p
p>
</p
p>December 11 </p
p>Trans-Siberian Orchestra</p
p>3:30 and 8 p.m. </p
p>American Airlines Center, 2500 Victory Ave., Dallas </p
p>Following a hiatus from performing last year, the band returns to the stage with its rocking renditions of holiday classics. </p
p>americanairlinescenter.com</p
p>
</p
p>December 14
</p
p>Big Brassy Christmas & Organ Extravaganza</p
p>7:30 p.m.</p
p>Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, 2301 Flora St., Dallas </p
p>The Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s brass and percussion sections deck the halls with seasonal sounds, accompanied by the Lay Family Concert Organ. </p
p>dallassymphony.org</p
p>
</p
p>December 17 </p
p>LeAnn Rimes: Home for the Holidays </p
p>8 p.m. </p
p>Winspear Opera House, 2403 Flora St., Dallas</p
p>The North Texas native and Grammy Award-winning singer will perform holiday classics as well as her own hit tunes. </p
p>attpac.org</p
p>
</p
p>December 17-19</p
p>Hollywood Holidays </p
p>7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday</p
p>Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, 2301 Flora St., Dallas</p
p>The magic of the silver screen comes to life with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Conductor Richard Kaufman. </p
p>dallassymphony.org</p
p>
</p
p>December 18 </p
p>North Texas Tuba Christmas 2021</p
p>12 p.m.</p
p>Willis Library, University of North Texas, 1506 W. Highland St., Denton</p
p>This performance will take place outside (weather permitting) on the Willis Library Mall. </p
p>music.unt.edu/event-calendar</p
p>
</p
p>Music to Lift Your Holiday Spirit</p
p>4 p.m. </p
p>First Christian Church, 1203 Fulton St., Denton</p
p>Admission is free to the Denton Community Chorus’ holiday concert. </p
p>dentoncommunitychorus.com</p
p>
Home for the Holidays
</p
p>4 p.m. </p
p>Frisco High School, 6401 Parkwood Blvd., Frisco</p
p>The Plano Symphony Orchestra is joined by Vocal Majority and singer-actress Fela for its annual holiday performance. Tickets are $25. (Additional performance at 4 p.m. Dec. 19 at Christ United Methodist Church, 3101 Coit Road, Plano. Tickets are $30-$40.) </p
p>planosymphony.org</p
p>
</p
p>December 20 </p
p>Sarah Brightman – A Christmas Symphony</p
p>7:30 p.m.</p
p>Winspear Opera House, 2403 Flora St., Dallas</p
p>The renowned soprano, actress and dancer takes the stage to share soaring renditions of classic seasonal songs.</p
p>attpac.org</p
p>
</p
p>December 21 </p
p>A Very Swingin’ Basie Christmas: The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra | Jazz Series</p
p>7:30 p.m.</p
p>Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, 2301 Flora St., Dallas </p
p>The famed orchestra presents jazzy hits from its acclaimed holiday album. </p
p>dallassymphony.org</p
p>
</p
p>December 22 </p
p>Dallas Winds – Christmas at the Meyerson</p
p>7:30 p.m.</p
p>Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, 2301 Flora St., Dallas </p
p>The Winds perform the carols of Composer Julie Giroux, including Hark! Those Jingle Bells are Smokin’, The Little Drummer Boy’s Bolero and I Got Rhythm For Christmas.</p
p>dallassymphony.org</p
p>
</p
p>December 30</p
p>Mannheim Steamroller</p
p>7:30 p.m.</p
p>Winspear Opera House, 2403 Flora St., Dallas</p
p>Unable to tour last year for the first time in more than three decades, the group brings its powerful versions of traditional holiday tunes back to the stage as part of its 2021 tour. </p
p>attpac.org</p
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