SYMPHONY NOTES
Where Holiday Memories Begin
By Tori Fusinaz
For generations, the Jacksonville Symphony has helped families celebrate the season through music, creating memories that last long after the final note.
Every family has its holiday traditions. Maybe it’s unpacking ornaments that have been passed down for generations, pulling out recipes that only appear once a year, or watching the same holiday movie every December.
For me, it was putting on a holiday show for my grandparents, complete with homemade costumes, while my mom accompanied us on the piano. Years later, I couldn’t tell you every song we sang. I just remember the feeling. Maybe that’s why music becomes such an important part of the holidays. Long after the decorations are packed away and another year has come and gone, it’s often a familiar melody that takes us right back to where we were. At the Jacksonville Symphony, we have the privilege of becoming part of those moments.
Our mission is to enrich the human spirit through symphonic music and nowhere is that mission more evident than during the holiday season. Families return to Jacoby Symphony Hall year after year, introducing children and grandchildren to experiences they once enjoyed themselves. Children who once danced in the Jacksonville Symphony’s “First Coast Nutcracker” now return with children of their own, eager to share the same magic they experienced years before. For many on the First Coast, their first “snowfall” happened inside Jacoby Symphony Hall during Holiday Pops. Others simply can’t imagine the season without hearing Handel’s “Messiah” performed live.
Because we all celebrate the holidays differently, we’ve created a holiday season as unique as the community we serve, with experiences for all ages and music ranging from timeless classical traditions to jazz, film, and festive favorites.
“One of the greatest privileges of the Jacksonville Symphony is being part of our community’s holiday celebrations. Each holiday season, more than 25,000 people walk through our doors. Some are continuing traditions that span generations. Others are experiencing the symphony for the very first time. Knowing we’ve become part of so many family celebrations is both humbling and inspiring, and it’s something we never take for granted,” says Steven Libman, president and CEO of the Jacksonville Symphony.
Whether it’s the excitement of “Home Alone” in Concert, the spectacle of Holiday Pops, the wonder of the “First Coast Nutcracker” or the majesty of Handel’s “Messiah,” every note is performed live by the extraordinary musicians of the Jacksonville Symphony.
A live orchestra changes everything. It transforms a favorite holiday film into an immersive experience. It gives dancers the freedom to perform to the breath, energy, and spontaneity of live music instead of a recording. It fills Jacoby Symphony Hall with a richness, energy, and emotion that simply can’t be recreated any other way.
The “First Coast Nutcracker” has been one of Jacksonville’s most treasured holiday traditions for more than 50 years. Featuring an extraordinary cast of local dancers alongside nationally recognized guest artists, it’s the only “Nutcracker” production on the First Coast with a live orchestra. Refreshed sets and costumes keep the production feeling fresh each year while Tchaikovsky’s timeless score reminds us why this holiday classic continues to capture hearts generation after generation.
For many, the holidays wouldn’t feel complete without Handel’s “Messiah.” “’Messiah’ is one of the performances I look forward to most each year. Bringing together the Jacksonville Symphony, our exceptional Symphony Chorus, and outstanding guest soloists to perform this remarkable masterpiece creates a musical experience unlike any other,” says Music Director Courtney Lewis. “It’s inspiring, deeply moving and something everyone should experience live.”
While many of our holiday traditions have been enjoyed for decades, our holiday season continues to evolve.
In recent years, we’ve expanded our offerings to reflect the many ways people celebrate this special time of year. Holiday Big Band fills the hall with the unmistakable energy of jazz and swinging holiday favorites, while Holiday Brass, Organ & Percussion showcases the brilliance of brass and percussion alongside the magnificent Bryan Concert Organ.
The holidays remind us that the most meaningful gifts aren’t always wrapped. They’re the experiences we share. The moments that make us laugh, inspire us, and bring us together. Years later, I couldn’t tell you every song we sang for my grandparents. I just remember the feeling, and I hope that’s what every family carries with them. Because that’s what music does. It has a way of staying with us and becomes part of the stories we tell for generations to come.
We’re honored that, for so many across the First Coast, that story includes the Jacksonville Symphony.
Tickets: JaxSymphony.org or call (904) 354-5547
