Get into the spirit of the season with ‘A Touch of Frost’ from the Southwest Symphony and Lieto Voices!

The Southwest Symphony performs at the Cox Performing Arts Center, St. George, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of the Southwest Symphony, St. George News

CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — Continuing another stellar season of bringing live classical music to Southern Utah, the Southwest Symphony will transform the Cox Performing Arts Center into a winter wonderland for “A Touch of Frost: A Holiday Celebration.” Performances of this festive extravaganza are slated for Friday and Saturday, Dec. 9-10. 

The Southwest Symphony performs at the Cox Performing Arts Center, St. George, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of the Southwest Symphony, St. George News

Get ready for Christmas with a musical celebration of the season. Accompanied by Lieto Voices!, a community choir based in the St. George area, the Southwest Symphony will play traditional holiday favorites as well as selections from Handel’s “Messiah.”

This soul-stirring oratorio, composed in 1741 with text based on Biblical passages, is among the most frequently performed choral works in the Western world. The symphony has presented the complete “Messiah” every December for over 30 years, and it has become a tradition for countless local families.

“For many people, the holiday season just wouldn’t be the same without it,” said Lucas Darger, the symphony’s music director. “But there’s so much wonderful music out there, and this year we’re going to do a holiday celebration in a way we’ve never done before.” 

Along with Christmas classics like “O Holy Night,” “Joy to the World” and “Silent Night,” the symphony will perform the Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s “Christmas Canon” and pieces from “The Nutcracker.” Listeners young and old will adore Leroy Anderson’s toe-tapping standard “Sleigh Ride.”

“We’ll have an 85-voice choir and a 70-piece orchestra on stage,” Darger said. “It’s going to be an incredible experience. We hope people will come out and get in the holiday spirit with us.”

The Southwest Symphony performs at the Cox Performing Arts Center, St. George, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of the Southwest Symphony, St. George News

Attendees are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy pre-show performances from the Crimson Cliffs High School orchestra on Friday and the Desert Hills High School concert choir on Saturday. The pre-show performances start at 7 p.m., and the symphony will take the stage at 7:30 p.m.

The concert runs approximately 90 minutes with an intermission. Ticket prices range between $15.50 and $36 depending on the section and may be purchased online or by calling the Utah Tech University ticket office at 435-652-7800. Discounted tickets are available for seniors and students, as well as when purchasing four or more tickets to the same performance.

The Southwest Symphony’s 42nd performance season is an exciting and diverse series of six concerts featuring everything from Beethoven’s monumental Ninth Symphony to the iconic songs of James Bond. Their next show, scheduled for Feb. 3, will pair Mendelssohn’s epic “Violin Concerto” with American composer Florence Price’s trailblazing “Symphony No. 1.” The symphony will be joined by artist-in-residence David Park, and the concert will be recorded for a live album. 

Originally assembled as a handful of local musicians seeking a venue for sharing classical music with the community, the Southwest Symphony is now an auditioned group of about 80 professional and skilled amateur performers. Although the musicians receive a small stipend for their participation, it’s essentially a volunteer organization supported by a combination of ticket sales, grants, corporate sponsorships and private donations.

The Southwest Symphony performs at the Cox Performing Arts Center, St. George, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of the Southwest Symphony, St. George News

Darger said the people of Southern Utah always have been extremely generous in their patronage of the performing arts, and the musicians and staff of the Southwest Symphony work tirelessly to produce quality concerts every season. The symphony has won the Best of State award for community orchestra three years in a row, a recognition that speaks to the dedication and talent of every person involved.  

“They’re very passionate about it, and they love what they’re doing,” he added. “It’s really a gem for our community to have an orchestra of this level in this small of a city.”

Visit the Southwest Symphony website to purchase tickets and learn how your support helps advance the performing arts in Southern Utah.

Written by ALEXA MORGAN for St. George News.

•  S P O N S O R E D   C O N T E N T  •

Event details

  • What: Southwest Symphony presents “A Touch of Frost: A Holiday Celebration.” 
  • When: Friday and Saturday, Dec. 9-10, starting at 7:30 p.m. 
  • Where: Cox Performing Arts Center, 335 S. 700 East, St. George. 
  • Tickets: Premium $28.50-$36; area 1 $24-$30; area 2 $18-$22.50; area 3 $15.50-$19.50.  
  • Resources: Website

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

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