Holiday magic: Schaumburg's Orchestras and Choirs unite for a festive celebration Dec. 21

Nearly 150 musicians and singers are coming together to present the annual “Presto!” Holiday Concert at Schaumburg’s Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts.

Performances will be at 1 and 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21, at the arts center, 201 Schaumburg Court in Schaumburg.

The program will feature the Schaumburg Youth Symphony Orchestra with director Kevan Kosobayashi, and four ensembles from the Schaumburg Choral Program: the Schaumburg Choral Artists with Tim Koll, director; SCA2, Meagan Zahora; Cantabile, Sarah Inendino, director; and Prelude, Erin Kozakis, director.

Performing as individual ensembles and jointly in a variety of combinations, the orchestra and choral programs will present classical, pop, and traditional carols.

Orchestra works include music from Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker,“ Leroy Anderson’s “Christmas Festival,” and the old-time radio classic “Holiday for Strings.” Seasonal choral selections include “Carol of the Bells,” “Angels We Have Heard on High,” “Venni Venni Emmanuel,” and others.

Tim Koll, director of the adult Schaumburg Choral Artists, likens the event to a festival concert that offers a varied lineup of artists.

“It’s the only time the community can see four choirs and a symphony orchestra perform together,” Koll said. “More exciting is the opportunity to collaborate, particularly when there are grade school singers alongside professionals without sacrificing quality.”

The Schaumburg Choral Artists, a newer extension of the Prairie Center’s youth programs, recently toured overseas to perform in Scotland and Ireland.

Tickets for the “Presto!” Holiday Concert, starting at $20, can be ordered online at prairiecenter.org or by calling (847) 895-3600.

The Schaumburg Youth Orchestra and Choral Program are presented by the village of Schaumburg.