As December rolls in, there is no greater spectacle than to see joy fly about. Orchestra Iowa's Holiday Spectacular, on the one hand, proves there is more melody to Christmas than gifts and snow.

Orchestra Iowa, per tradition, is set to grace the Paramount Theatre in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, come pre-Christmas. Its festive mandate, the Holiday Spectacular, has been prepared to play on two dates before the festival, as per Art Iowa.

The first performance will commence on December 20 at 7:30 pm, and another on December 21 at 2 pm. This tradition features classics familiar to every house, but with Orchestra Iowa's own twist.

The tracklist for the evening will roll out with 'Joy to the World' and 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer' at the helm. Sing-alongs, a full symphony, a chorus, a youth chorus, vocalist Lynne Rothrock, and the Iowa Women's Jazz Orchestra will follow.

For over 20 years under conductor Timothy Hankewich, the Holiday Spectacular has enchanted audiences with evolving arrangements of seasonal favourites, according to Arts Iowa. Preparations span 18 months, blending audience participation, local talent, and nods to animated specials.

From symphony roots running deep, Orchestra Iowa has conducted legacies that harmonise history with holiday hype seen nowhere else.

Orchestra Iowa's symphony spreads history-wide

Orchestra Iowa traces its legacy to 1923 as the Cedar Rapids Symphony Orchestra. Rebranded with 68 professional musicians delivering over 180 performances yearly, it champions classical masterpieces, pops series, community outreach, and partnerships with Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre and Ballet Quad Cities as of today.

Are you geared up to spend the days before Christmas harmonising at the Paramount Theatre? Let us know in the comments below!

Written by

Adiba Nizami

Edited by

Aliza Siddiqui