HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS!
A festive Symphonic Revue with Santa missing his cue
DECEMBER 21, 2024 / 11 AM & 12:30 PM
JESSICA RIVERO ALTARRIBA, conductor SANTA CLAUS
ELLESSE HARGREAVES, carol
KAITLIN MILLS, noelle
ANDERSON
HERBERT
TCHAIKOVSKY
TCHAIKOVSKY
TCHAIKOVSKY
BERNARD
NELSON
MARKS
BASS
ANDERSON
PIERPONT
A Christmas Festival
“March of the Toys” from Babes in Toyland
“Dance of the Reeds” from The Nutcracker Suite
“Chinese Dance” from The Nutcracker Suite
“Trepak” from The Nutcracker Suite
“Winter Wonderland”
“Frosty the Snowman”
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”
The Night Before Christmas
Sleigh Ride
“Jingle Bells Forever”
CONDUCTOR SPONSOR
See page 38 for Jessica Rivero Altarriba’s profile.
Ellesse Hargreaves is truly honored to share the stage with such extraordinary artists and musicians. While much of her work takes place behind the scenes, she has proudly been involved with Utah Symphony | Utah Opera for over ten years. Hargreaves studied theater at Southern Utah University and has performed in numerous local productions. She has written and starred in past productions of Here Comes Santa Claus! as well as Utah Symphony’s Symphonic Space Adventure and Halloween Spooktacular!
“Thank you to everyone in the audience who brought a child with them today, as nurturing a lifelong love of music often begins at a young age. I also want to express special gratitude to my mother, Linda Hargreaves, whose influence has been invaluable in shaping my passion for the arts. She filled my childhood with classics like Beethoven Lives Upstairs and Vivaldi’s Ring of Mystery, which I listened to from the backseat of our family Aerostar.”
Kaitlin Mills is a woman who wears many “hats”: actor, visual artist, makeup artist, arts administrator, and mother. Previous acting credits include Utah Shakespeare Festival’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Hermia), Sense and Sensibility (Anne Steele), and Amadeus (Katherina Cavalieri), as well as Taming of the Shrew (Bianca) for the Shakespeare in the Schools Tour. She is thrilled to be returning to the stage with the Utah Symphony this holiday season.
CONNECTING FAMILIES THROUGH MUSIC ONE PERFORMANCE AT A TIME
By Megs Vincent
The Utah Symphony’s Family Series is one of the most beloved offerings in our season. Designed for children and families, these concerts blend fun and musical discovery in a format that invites multiple generations to experience the joy of live orchestral performances together.
With tickets starting at just $12 (students and attendees under 30 save 50%), these concerts are both affordable and accessible for Utah families. Plus, performances are kept to about 60 minutes or less—just the right length before the wiggles set in and to leave kids wanting to come again! This season’s highly anticipated concerts include Here Comes Santa Claus!, Gold Rush!, and Wild Symphony
An Ever-Growing Legacy of Family Programming
The success of the Family Series is not new, and its popularity continues to rise each year. Last season, the Utah Symphony saw record-breaking attendance for these performances, with shows like the timeless classic Peter and the Wolf, which continues to enchant generations of audiences both young and old. This commitment to education and accessibility has been key to drawing in new audiences and nurturing the next generation of classical music lovers.
Our goal with the Family Series is to create performances that spark curiosity and provide an engaging musical experience for all ages. By keeping the concerts interactive, fun, and educational, the Utah Symphony ensures that these shows are not only entertaining but also formative for young audience members.
Here Comes Santa Claus! – A Festive Tradition with a New Twist
One of the crown jewels of this year’s Family Series is Here Comes Santa Claus!, happening on December 21, 2024, at Abravanel Hall. This holiday-themed concert has become an annual tradition for many Utah families, offering a delightful mix of storytelling, Christmas carols, and festive orchestral music designed to capture the magic of the season and make lasting memories.
But this year’s performance brings something extra special—a beloved story created by Ellesse Hargreaves, an integral member of the Utah Symphony | Utah Opera staff team. Hargreaves has crafted a heartwarming story that will guide the audience through a holiday adventure—with Santa Claus himself making an appearance.
This festive narrative will engage young concert-goers and delight those who have made this concert part of their holiday tradition. With a runtime of approximately 50 minutes, it’s a perfect introduction to live orchestral music for even the youngest attendees.
Looking Ahead in 2024–25
In addition to Here Comes Santa Claus!, the 2024-25 Family Series will also feature Gold Rush! and Wild Symphony two equally exciting performances.
This March, Gold Rush! takes audiences on a musical journey through the history of the American West. This performance is filled with lively music that brings to life the spirit of exploration, adventure, and the gold rush era. Families will be transported to a time of discovery as the orchestra plays dynamic pieces that evoke the excitement and challenges of the pioneers. The performance will feature a blend of orchestral storytelling and visual elements that help younger audience members understand the context of the music while being fully immersed in the experience.
In April, Utah Symphony will present Wild Symphony, a family-friendly concert inspired by the best-selling children’s book of the same name by author and composer Dan Brown. Wild Symphony invites families on an imaginative journey as each piece of music introduces a different animal, encouraging children to learn about the natural world through music. Brown’s book, paired with the Utah Symphony’s performance, will captivate young minds as they hear sounds inspired by everything from buzzing bees to playful kangaroos. The combination of literature, music, and learning makes this concert a truly unique offering in the Family Series lineup.
The Utah Symphony’s Family Series is more than just a set of concerts—it’s central to our mission to: “Connect the Community through Great Live Music.” By creating accessible performances that captivate younger audiences while maintaining high musical standards, we ensure that families return year after year, fostering a lifelong love of orchestral and classical music while deepening relationships with one another.
