LAKEPORT – John Parkinson, director and conductor of the Lake County Symphony, plans to deliver a Christmas concert that will rival anything seen and heard north of the Golden Gate, according to Paul Brewer, president of Clear Lake Performing Arts (CLPA), the orchestra's sponsoring group.

The concert will take place at 3 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 20, at Lakeport's Clear Lake High School on Lange Street.

Brewer of CLPA, which underwrites the symphony, says he's aware that many local residents do not even know Lake County boasts one of the finest such orchestras in Northern California.

“Many people think they need to go to San Francisco or Santa Rosa for great symphonic music, when all they need to do is visit the Marge Alakszay Auditorium at Clear Lake High School on Dec. 20,” he said.

Parkinson has chosen a mostly-secular program of holiday favorites opening with a trio consisting of "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "Winter Wonderland."

This will be followed by what is likely one of the most popular Christmas classics ever composed, "The Nutcracker Suite."

The 60-plus members of the orchestra will render all seven numbers of Tchaikovsky's fairy tale about Little Clara and her Christmas dreams – or are they dreams?

They are "The March of the Nutcracker," "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy," "Trepak," "Arabian Dance," "Chinese Dance," "Danse of the Mirlitons" and "Waltz of the Flowers."

Returning to more contemporary music, Parkinson will then lead the orchestra through "Frosty the Snowman," "A Charlie Brown Christmas Medley," "How the Grinch Stole Christmas medley" and "March of the Toys" from the movie "Babes in Toyland."

After intermission it's the turn of Lake County's young people to show off their musical abilities starting with the sister-brother duo of Laura (fiddle) and Darin (cello) Smith playing a Christmas medley, followed by the CLPA Youth Orchestra, under the direction of Wes Follett with "Holiday Hoedown" – their own Christmas medley.

In what is becoming a symphony tradition, Conductor Parkinson will then provide a baton, which will be auctioned off with the winning bidder earning the right to use it in conducting the full symphony in a rousing rendition of "Stars and Stripes" by John Phillips Sousa.

The winning bidder may choose to delegate conducting duties to another person, perhaps an aspiring member of the CLPA Youth Orchestra, or even to Parkinson himself.

Popular jazz vocalist Paula Samonte will then join the orchestra in singing four more holiday standards, including "Christmas Time is Here," "The Christmas Song," "White Christmas" and "Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow."

Following "Greensleeves" another Lake County tradition kicks in, with audience sing-a-longs of a medley of holiday favorites. Then comes Leroy Anderson's "Sleigh Ride" (complete with horse whinny and crack of the whip) and the concluding Hallelujah Chorus with the audience joining the orchestra in rendering Handel's music from "The Messiah."

"The Christmas concert is always a family favorite" Brewer says. "We encourage everyone to come and bring the kids.”

Admission for young people under the age of 18 is free. Admission for members of the general public is $20, and $15 for CLPA members.

For more information call Connel Murray at 707-277-7076.