Boston Pops Holiday Concert

To get into the holiday spirit my parents and I attended the The Boston Pop’s Holiday Concert in Worcester, MA. The Boston Pops and conductor Keith Lockhart dazzled the city and the audience with their sold out holiday concert at the Hanover Theatre. They were accompanied by vocal group Five by Design, the Seven Hills Charter School Show Choir, and Jolly Ole’ St. Nick. This performance by the Boston Pop’s marks their return after having broken their 27 year tradition of coming to Worcester in 2008. This year they moved from the larger DCU center to the more intimate Hanover Theatre. This more intimate setting, where the venue is known for its acoustics, proved to be a success with not a single empty seat.

After a brief introduction by Hanover Theatre’s Troy Siebels, the Boston Pop’s and Keith Lockhart started the show off with a bang with Christmas Canticles. The concert featured classic music of the holiday season with a unique twist. The vocal styling’s of Five by Design added a retro swing style to the performance. They performed such Christmas songs as Carol of the Bells, O Come O Come Emanuael, Holly Jolly Christmas and a special reading of how the Grinch Stole Christmas.

After a brief intermission they started the second half with an amazing rendition of Joy! followed by Noelle Scarlett from Grafton High School reading the classic Yes. Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus. While they continued with more classics like Sleigh Ride, Home for the Holiday’s and Twas the Night Before Christmas you couldn’t help but want to sing along with the beautiful music.

The show wrapped up when Jolly Ole’ St. Nick joined Keith Lockhart on stage and the Seven Hills Charter School Show Choir performed Light the Candles. They then lead the audience in a sing along of some of the classic holiday songs like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Have yourself a Merry Christmas, Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire, Winter Wonderland, and Jingle Bells.


After a standing ovation for their performances we were treated to an encore performance of Silent Night sung by Five By Design. The concert was closed by the Boston Pop’s with a solo orchestra performance of holiday medley of Christmas Favorites Frosty the Snowman and Jingle Bells.

Panorama of The Hanover Theatre from the Balcony with the Boston Pop's on Stage