It's a Holiday Feeling!
December 6, 2024 at 7pm
BJCC Concert Hall

Daniel Cho, conductor

Celebrate the Holidays with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra 

Get ready to experience the magic of the holidays in Birmingham with a spectacular evening of music and joy! Join the Alabama Symphony Orchestra for a festive celebration featuring beloved holiday classics, world-class musicians, and plenty of surprises to get you in the spirit of the season.

This year, the ASO is thrilled to welcome Birmingham’s own Sadie Goodman as the guest soloist, bringing her stunning vocals to this holiday extravaganza. Also taking the stage is pianist Rich Ridenour and electric violinist Bethany Borg, adding their dynamic talents to an unforgettable performance. The orchestra will perform timeless favorites such as Carol of the Bells, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, and Merry Christmas Darling, filling the concert hall with the sounds of the season.

But the fun doesn’t stop with the music! Santa Claus himself will make a special appearance, spreading cheer and offering photo opportunities before the show and during intermission. Be sure to enjoy delicious holiday treats and drinks as part of this joyful celebration.

Check out our fabulous conductor, featured guest artists, and vocalists!

Soprano Sadie Goodman holds Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance (2009) and Master of Music Education (2010) degrees from Samford University, a Master of Music degree in Voice and Opera (2013) from Northwestern University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Alabama (2015). While a student at Northwestern University, Sadie worked closely with composers John Musto and Ricky Ian Gordon on the roles of Mid-Aged Woman and Rosasharn in their respective operas Bastianello and The Grapes of Wrath. She enjoyed singing in the operas The Great Gatsby with composer John Harbison in attendance, and as Second Spirit in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte directed by Edward Berkeley at the Aspen Music Festival in 2013. Read more about Goodman here.

Critics hail pianist Rich Ridenour as amazingly versatile, masterfully musical and wickedly funny. Mr. Ridenour established his career performing his own musical arrangements of classical masterworks and today’s popular piano favorites. With hundreds of engagements to his credit, Mr. Ridenour has recently performed with the orchestras of Indianapolis, Atlanta, Kansas City, Topeka, Harrisburg, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Charleston, West Virginia, Elgin, Owensboro, Mazatlan, Mexico and the Bravissimo Festival Orchestra of Guatemala City. Each season Mr. Ridenour serves as pops director for the Dearborn Symphony Orchestra. Read more about Ridenour here.

Bethany Borg began her musical journey at just two years old, touring the U.S. and Japan with her family band, which included five siblings. Along the way, she developed a love for fiddle contests, winning ten state and national titles. Her unique blend of classical training and fiddle contest techniques helped shape her signature sound—a fusion of precision and bold, expressive playing. Read more about Borg here.

Daniel Cho is a Korean-American conductor and violinist, who has proudly served as the Assistant Conductor of Eugene Symphony since 2019, as well as Conducting Fellow of Eugene Ballet and Orchestra NEXT since 2021. Beginning the 2022/23 season, Daniel also began his tenure as the Assistant Conductor of the Yakima Symphony in Washington. He has previously held positions as Assistant Conductor of the Oregon Mozart Players and Eugene Opera. Daniel has traveled the United States and served as cover conductor for orchestras around the country, including the Orlando Philharmonic, Virginia Symphony, and Santa Rosa Symphony in California. Read more about Cho here.