'Tis the season of holiday music at Prairie Center

From Handel's "Messiah" to that song about Rudolph's red nose, music is an integral part of the holiday season.

And there's plenty of opportunities in the coming days to enjoy - and in some cases sing along to - area choruses, orchestras and church groups putting on concerts, recitals and shows, many of them free of charge.

One highlight this weekend will be the award-winning Schaumburg Youth Symphony Orchestra presenting its annual Presto! Holiday Concert at 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19 at the Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Ct. in Schaumburg.

This program, "Christmas with Grandpa," adds humor to an eclectic musical show. In scenes presented between the musical performances, two young children played by Joshua Kiesel and Eleanor Ekovich spend an adventurous evening with their cantankerous grandfather, played by Tim Philbin, during the holiday season.

"It plays on the stereotypes of how people of vastly different generations contrast," says the Prairie Center's Rob Pileckis, who scripted the program. "But in the end, of course, they find a common

ground that enables them to understand one another."

For orchestra Director Joseph Malmquist, the holiday concert provides its advanced musicians the opportunity to play classical music alongside popular holiday favorites.

"The students embrace and are certainly up to the challenge of performing music you'd hear a major symphony orchestra perform," says Malmquist.

The program features Bizet's "Farandole" from the L'Arlisienne Suite, Tchaikovsky's "Waltz of the Flowers" from "The Nutcracker," Vaughan-Williams's "Greensleeves," Leroy Anderson's "Sleigh Ride" and others. The Schaumburg Youth Orchestra was awarded Youth Orchestra of the Year by the Illinois Council of Orchestras in 2008.

Also joining the program is Jubilous, a 12-member vocal ensemble who will join the orchestra in a selection of carols and holiday works.

Tickets for Presto! are $24 and $15 students and seniors and can be ordered by calling (847) 895-3600. Tickets are available online at prairiecenter.org.