The Modesto Symphony Orchestra’s holiday concerts offer fun for the entire family. Complete with holiday décor and favorite carols, the MSO’s holiday concerts have become community favorites. 

The first of the MSO’s two holiday concerts is Holiday Pops! Set for 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 6 and 2 p.m. on Dec. 7 at the Gallo Center for the Arts. Conducted by Principal Pops Conductor Ryan Murray, this lively and festive concert features Broadway star Nikki Renée Daniels and the MSO Chorus. Tickets for Holiday Pops! Start at $23.

The Holiday Candlelight Concert is a more intimate concert and is returning to St. Stanislaus Catholic Church at 8 p.m. on Dec. 17. Led by MSO Chorus Director, Daniel R. Afonso Jr., this traditional holiday concert that will also feature the MSO Chorus and the Opus Handbell Ensemble. Adult ticket pricing starts at $39. Youth ticket pricing starts at $10.

 “I’m really excited about Holiday Pops this year! It’s always a great pleasure to share the stage with our wonderful Modesto Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and to celebrate the Holiday season the community!” said Murray, Principal Pops Conductor for the Modesto Symphony Orchestra. “I’m so excited to introduce Broadway star Nikki Renée Daniels to Modesto and to hear her amazing voice. I’m also excited to be bringing some brand-new pieces to this concert this year. Nikki has some new and interesting arrangements of our favorite holiday songs and we’ve added in some new orchestra showpieces as well. I’m also very excited to be performing a piece by Dr. Daniel Afonso, our incredible MSO Chorus director. And we will still have all of our wonderful MSO traditions like Sleigh Ride, our sing-a-long, and O Holy Night. We’ve had a great time putting the program together and we’re really looking forward to performing for our wonderful Modesto audience!”

Holiday Pops headliner, Nikki Renée Daniels, recently starred in “Once Upon a Mattress” (Lady Larken), and in the Tony Award-winning revival of “Company” (Jenny) on Broadway. Daniels has performed as a soloist with many symphony orchestras worldwide, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Toronto Symphony Orchestra, The Capetown Philharmonic, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Pops, the Philly Pops, the New York Pops, Indianapolis Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, and the Houston Symphony.

“We hope that both our Holiday Pops and Holiday Candlelight Concert can bring a little extra warmth and joy to our community,” says Caroline Nickel, President and CEO of the Modesto Symphony Orchestra. “It’s a special feeling being able to take the time to slow down and spend time with friends and family during the holiday season and each year we look forward to extending that feeling to our audiences.”