PORTSMOUTH — The sounds of the holiday season will ring throughout the hall when the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra presents its Holiday Pops Spectacular on Saturday, Dec. 13, 7:30 p.m., at the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts on the campus of Shawnee State University.

“It is hard to imagine the holiday season would be the same without the music” said Carl Daehler, conductor of the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra

“At this midway point through the Advent calendar, it is a perfect time to sit back and reflect on the meaning of Christmas as told through the beautiful music,” Daehler added. “There is nothing that gets us in the holiday mood better than hearing our favorite Christmas music and singing traditional Christmas carols.”

The Noteworthy Brass Quartet will be the opening act by playing in the lobby starting at 6:30 p.m.

The Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra will play a program which includes such seasonal favorites as “Stille Nacht,” “Sleigh Ride,” “Greensleeves,” and “Let There Be Peace on Earth.”

The PSO will also bring the Portsmouth Symphony Chorale, under the direction of Charles Varney, onto the stage and they will perform some of the holiday is choral music, including the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel is “The Messiah” and “Heavens are Ringing.”

Dr. Michael Raies will reprise his role as the Grinch in a special performance of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”

Steve Free will return to sing his award-winning, world-wide hit, “Just a Baby Boy.” And Santa Claus will be there to listen to children. There will also be a sing-a-long portion to finish the show.

This concert is the second of the PSO’s 2008-09 season.

The Portsmouth Pops will return in February with a program showcasing young talent in our community and conclude its season in April with a special program of Italian Pops music.

Tickets for the Portsmouth Pops events are just $16 for adults, $12 for seniors, $10 for students and $6 for children 12 and under.

Tickets are available at the McKinley Box Office or by calling 351-3600.

All PSO tickets are also available at www.ticketmaster.com and Ohio Kroger stores. The concert is sponsored by The Scioto Foundation.

The PSO’s Holiday Pops Spectacular is a proud member of “A Dickens of a Christmas Festival.”