For more than 25 years, Tulsa area residents have ushered in the Christmas season by enjoying Signature Symphony at Tulsa Community College “Christmas in Tulsa.” The performances are 7:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 8 and Saturday, Dec. 9 at the VanTrease Performing Arts Center for Education on the TCC Southeast Campus.

The concert promises timeless holiday favorites blended with new holiday songs for a magical night with friends and family. The evening will also pay tribute to the orchestra’s roots with the return of Signature Symphony founder Barry Epperley as guest conductor.

“This is a wonderful holiday treat to welcome back Barry, who founded the orchestra almost 40 years ago, for Tulsa’s most beloved Christmas tradition,” said Andrés Franco, Signature Symphony Music Director.

With the tradition of singing in the holiday season, the Signature Symphony will be joined by the Signature Chorale. In addition to conducting, Epperley will perform with Sheridan Road, a Tulsa vocal jazz ensemble he founded in 2012. Musical selections include “There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays,” “What Child is This?” and “Christmas in Tulsa.” Plus, three violin soloists will perform a bravura arrangement of “We Three Kings.”

“The whole concert is my favorite,” Epperley said. “First, I love showing off the orchestra. In this concert, the ‘Grand Pas de Deux’ from the Nutcracker and the ‘Music from the Movies’ really let our players shine. Then, the ‘Music Around the Piano’ brings an intimacy to the 1500 seat PACE Auditorium. And lastly, I love the snowfall at the end when everyone sings ‘White Christmas.’”

This 2017-2018 season, “From the Heartland: Tulsa Music Connections,” is a year-long celebration of music with Tulsa ties and celebrates Tulsa’s musical family of current and former residents and their contributions in composing and creating music.

Tickets for “Christmas in Tulsa” are available at www.signaturesymphony.org or by calling 918-595-7777.

Signature Symphony at TCC recently expanded rush tickets to include teachers and educators. Students and teachers can now buy rush tickets for $5 one-hour prior to show time for any Signature Symphony performance with a valid student or employee ID from their educational institution. This offer is limited to two tickets per student or educator and subject to the availability of open seats.

This project was supported in part by the Oklahoma Arts Council, which receives support from the State of Oklahoma and the National Endowment for the Arts.