Hat City’s Happy Holiday Pops, December 3-4 By Candlewood Symphony Orchestra

DANBURY — Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton will make his conducting debut with the Candlewood Symphony when Hat City Music presents its first annual Hat City Happy Holiday Pops  concerts on Saturday, December 3, at 7:30 pm, and Sunday, December 4, at 5 pm. Performances will be at St James Church, 25 West Street in Danbury.

Mr Boughton will lead the all-professional orchestra in Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride” as part of the program, which will feature many holiday musical favorites, including “White Christmas,” “O Holy Night” and “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.”

Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door and are available by calling Hat City Music at 746-2694, or online at www.BrownPaperTickets.com.

In addition to CSO, the concert will also feature the debut of David Katz’s Hat City Singers, who will welcome audience members with carols on the steps of  the church and also sing in the concert. New York soprano Culver Casson, a star of last summer’s Hat City Broadway Pops on the Danbury Green, will lead the audience in a sing-along.

Several surprise guests will offer holiday readings, and a group of area music educators has been invited to participate in a performance of Haydn’s delightful Toy Symphony, which requires them to play real toy instruments with the orchestra, and even pop balloons.

There will be a carillon prelude before the concert begins and CSO will premiere several new arrangements by the noted New Fairfield musician Arnie Gross.

“I don’t think Danbury has ever seen or heard a concert this fun,” said Mr Katz, who returned to Danbury in 2000 to found Hat City Music Theater and CSO two decades in the Midwest.

“My holiday pops concerts were always audience favorites in Michigan, Illinois and Texas,” said Mr Katz.

“I’m delighted to finally bring some of that fun back to Danbury.”