An annual favorite, the Family Holiday Pops! program will delight audiences of all ages with a seasonal blend of music that will put your whole family in the holiday spirit. Both concert programs will include Anderson’s Christmas Festival Overture and Sleighride, selections from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, and Richman’s Hanukkah Festival Overture as well Stephenson’s A Holly and Jolly Sing-Along!.

On December 17, the PSO will be joined by the York High School Chamber Choir, and the Community Chorus of South Berwick, who will perform Stopford’s “Lully, Lulla, Lullay,” Rutter’s “The Very Best Time of the Year” and Bradford’s “Sing We Now of Christmas.”

The December 18th performance will feature Monte Bohanan as narrator of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” as well as Suite from Polar Express and Strauss’ Unter Donner und Blitz.

The Chamber Singers is one of the two honors choir offerings at York High School. They have performed as invited guests throughout Maine, including for the Maine Principals Association and the Maine Music Educators State Conference. Director Rob Westerberg is in his 38th year teaching music, the last 25 at York High School. He is past president of several state music associations, has guest conducted nearly 70 honors choirs throughout New England, and was the York County Teacher of the Year in 2020.

The Community Chorus at South Berwick is a group of singers from over 25 communities who come together for the joy of preparing excellent choral music and performing fine concerts in their communities twice annually. Under the direction of Music Director and Conductor Dr. Amy Kotsonis, the chorus provides dedicated, non-auditioned singers with the opportunity to enhance their musical knowledge and skills while enjoying the fellowship of working with others in this common musical endeavor.

Monte Bohanan, a familiar face and voice on The Music Hall stage, has been a special guest narrator at several of the PSO’s past performances, including Dan Brown’s Wild Symphony and Copland’s Lincoln Portrait. He has also been the host of Tedx Portsmouth and CreativeMornings PKX. Off stage, Bohanan currently serves as the Director of Communications & Community Engagement for the City of Portsmouth. He previously spent 22 years at The Music Hall in Portsmouth, NH, the last ten years as the Director of Marketing & Communications, where he oversaw daily operations of events, institutional marketing, and PR and made regular appearances on stage as master of ceremonies