A Message from the President & CEO

Welcome!

The sights and sounds of the holidays in Charlotte are all around us – the twinkling lights of decorated homes, festive popup markets in Uptown, and, of course, the music of your Charlotte Symphony! We’re so pleased to offer a variety of ways to celebrate the season with your loved ones this month.

First, what would the holidays be without the great tradition of Handel’s Messiah and the Charlotte Master Chorale? Ian Watson, Principal Keyboardist and Associate Conductor of the Handel & Haydn Society, brings fresh insight to the beloved work, conducting from the harpsichord.

Gather the whole family for our joyful Magic of Christmas and enjoy singalongs, falling snow, and your favorite seasonal classics, with star entertainer Tony DeSare and Resident Conductor Christopher James Lees (and who knows, maybe a surprise guest along the way)! Neither will you want to miss the unveiling of Thorgy Thor’s fun and inventive holiday show, nor the awe-inspiring acrobatics of Cirque de Noël!

We also warmly encourage you to support Charlotte Ballet’s holiday tradition of presenting the Nutcracker, with the musicians of the Charlotte Symphony back in the pit to bring Tchaikovsky’s timeless score to life!

I hope you’ll join us to ring in the New Year with American Idol finalist Melinda Doolittle and a post-concert party with champagne and salsa dancing.

If you’re still working on your holiday shopping, we’ve just opened up a new shop with items sure to delight the music lovers in your life. You can find a curated list on page 14 of this program.

Thank you for making the CSO part of your family tradition this year. We wish you and yours a wonderful holiday season.

David Fisk, President & CEO