One of Worcester’s most cherished traditions returns on December 13th as the 45th Annual Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra Holiday Pops Concert fills Mechanics Hall with music, holiday cheer, and an eclectic blend of festive performances. The concert features the full Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra, Irish step dancers, a fife and drum ensemble, carol sing-alongs, and even a visit from Santa Claus. Beloved music from Frozen will share the stage with favorites by Handel, John Rutter, Ola Gjeilo, and traditional holiday classics.
At the heart of this year’s celebration is the continued collaboration between the Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra and Worcester’s community choir, the Salisbury Singers, under the direction of Reagan Paras. Paras joined the Salisbury Singers in 2024, making this his second Holiday Pops concert.
“We have a long standing relationship with the Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra and with Paul Levinson,” Para begins, “When I was asked to collaborate as the new music director for Salisbury Singers, it was really a pleasure, because there’s a lot more that we can do with the repertoire that I get to select with the other directors of the Holiday Pops concert. We have a full orchestra with a full brass section, a full woodwind section, and percussion. You name it, we have it. So I can select repertoire that’s traditionally unable to do from Salisbury Singers alone.”
“What I like about this concert is, when audiences know the repertoire,” Paras continues, “Let’s just say the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel, that’s the one of the most well known classical music pieces, the audiences have power over that music and enjoy it more. They know that music, they have ownership of that music.”
That expanded repertoire is part of why Worcester audiences fill Mechanics Hall each year. The concert mixes high-level choral and orchestral pieces with crowd-pleasing classics people love to hear and sing. This year’s concert is a fast-paced program that never lingers too long on one style and includes the Middlesex County Volunteers Fifes and Drums, the Murphy Academy of Irish Dance, and even a visit from Old Saint Nick. “The repertoire is just so much fun. It’s enjoyable. We have repertoire from classical music standards to songs from Frozen. There’s a group that’s doing Irish step dancing. There’s enough in the whole concert that it’ll not just engage the listener, but we invite the audience to sing along with it,” Paras adds with a smile, “The best part about holiday pops is, if you’re an audience member and you don’t like a song, five minutes later, we have a new song.”
One piece Paras is especially excited to perform is “Luminous Night of the Soul” by Ola Gjeilo, a cinematic contemporary work featuring full strings and choir. “It’s a brilliant piece,” he says, “Even though it’s not as familiar, I think the audience will love it, because it’s written in a contemporary and accessible manner, and it’s difficult that it’ll challenge all of the instrumentalists and vocalists.”
For the Salisbury Singers, performing beside a full orchestra in such a historic space makes this concert a favorite. “For many of our members, it’s their favorite concert of the year, because it’s not just with a full orchestra, but it’s also in the historic Mechanics Hall venue. And any chance that you get to perform in that space, I think, is one that’s very, very special,” says Paras.
The atmosphere of the concert and the festive time of year create an evening that is a celebration for everyone in attendance, including the artists performing. “This is my favorite time of year. You have families coming together from far and away, and I think it’s incredibly important for us to embrace this time of year,” says Paras, “The way the Salisbury Singers operate is very much like a community of singers who lift each other up. When we perform, you can see the choir having this human connection based off of music, that is very unique. Events and performances like this, particularly in a time of year that has so much nostalgia connected to it, just brings our ensemble closer together. And I think for many of our singers, it’s the reason to come back each year.”
“I think we’re both progressive and traditional. We have a contemporary approach with tremendous respect for classical music”, Paras concludes, “The Salisbury Singers stand on 52 years of trailblazing and musical excellence, and I’ve seen us make decisions, both artistically and as an organization that really sets us apart.”
While the Salisbury Singers make a big impression, they’re just one reason the Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra Holiday Pops Concert at Mechanics Hall has been a well loved favorite for decades. The show mixes local talent, a full orchestra, classic holiday music, and just the right amount of sparkle. It’s a community celebration and a polished performance at the same time, but more than anything, it captures the memories, nostalgia, and joy that come with this season.