For the Reporter

Leif Bjaland guest conducts the Auburn Symphony Orchestra’s popular and family-friendly holiday symphonic concert in December.

Home for the Holidays: Nutcracker, Messiah, & More begins at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8 at the remodeled Auburn Performing Arts Center, 206 E St. NE.

The concert features festive, familiar works.

Troika is the most popular piece in the orchestral suite from the score Prokofiev wrote for the 1934 Soviet film, “Lieutenant Kije”.

Leroy Anderson’s 1948 “Sleigh Ride”, although not originally written as a holiday tune, takes the audience on a light-hearted journey through winter wonderlands, and his Christmas Festival features a medley of carols, including “Deck the Halls”, “Silent Night”,” Jingle Bells”, “Joy to the World”, and many more.

Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker” and Handel’s “Messiah” have become holiday traditions for families everywhere, and the Federal Way Chorale joins the symphony to bring these two masterworks to life, under the direction of Bjaland.

Bjaland served as the artistic director/conductor of Sarasota Orchestra for 15 years, and is music director of Waterbury Symphony in Connecticut, where he has received enormous enthusiasm and critical praise for his performances and imaginative programming.

Bjaland has appeared with numerous orchestra including the San Francisco Symphony, National Symphony, Florida Philharmonic, Louisiana Philharmonic, New World Symphony and others.

Reserved seats are $35 for adults, $28 for seniors and $10 for students. Parking is free.

Call 253-887-7777 or purchase online at auburnsymphony.org.