SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (Nov. 21, 2017) – This December The Utah Symphony will present a jam-packed program that could make even the Grinch crack a grin. Between sixties-style crooning, modern holiday classics, and international pop-stars, there is something for everyone this Christmas season, guaranteed. Come one, come all, and take part in the magic of the holiday season. Rumor has it the Big Man himself might even make an appearance! Tickets range from $8 to $125, and can be purchased at utahsymphony.org or by calling (801) 533-6683.

DEC. 12, 2017 (TUESDAY) -- THE MIDTOWN MEN WITH THE UTAH SYMPHONY DELIVER SIXTIES-STYLE CHRISTMAS CLASSICS GUARANTEED TO PUT A SMILE ON YOUR FACE

On December 12, come celebrate the holidays “sixties style” with The Midtown Men – 4 stars from the cast of Broadway’s “Jersey Boys”. Enjoy a thrilling holiday performance with the Utah Symphony and Conner Gray Covington conducting yuletide classics such as "Winter Wonderland," "Let It Snow," and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," as well as signature renditions of the greatest rock and roll hits of the 1960s. Tickets are priced from $29-$85 and can be purchased at utahsymphony.org or by calling (801) 533-6683.

Conner Gray Covington was recently appointed as the Assistant Conductor of the Utah Symphony, a position he began in the 2017-2018 season. This pastJune,he completed his tenure as the Rita E. Hauser Conducting Fellow at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. In that position he worked closely with the Curtis Symphony Orchestra and the Curtis Opera Theater and was mentored by Philadelphia Orchestra Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin. He recently made his Carnegie Hall debut with the Curtis Symphony Orchestra sharing the podium with Ludovic Morlot. Covington began his career as Assistant Conductor of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and Music Director of the Memphis Youth Symphony Program. A two-time recipient (2014, 2017) of a Career Assistance Award from the Solti Foundation U.S., he recently worked with the Nashville Symphony as a featured conductor in the 2016 Bruno Walter National Conductor Preview presented by the League of American Orchestras.

The Midtown Men reunites stars from the smash hit Broadway musical “Jersey Boys: The Story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.” Formed in 2010, the popular vocal group has been widely praised for their signature renditions of the greatest rock and roll songs of the 1960s. Together they have played over 700 concerts in North America, Europe and China, and have headlined alongside over 30 orchestras, including the Boston Pops and National Symphony.

Christian Hoff has won a Tony Award^® for his performance as Tommy DeVito in “Jersey Boys,” as well as Drama Desk, Drama League, and Outer Critics Circle Award nominations. Mr. Hoff was named “The Master of Mimicry” by Entertainment Weekly when his voicing of over 200 characters for “Tell Me How You Love the Picture” surpassed the audio book world record; the recording was also named Audio Book of The Year.

Travis Cloer starred as Frankie Valli in the Las Vegas company production of “Jersey Boys” and is the longest running actor to consecutively play the part. The show played in Vegas for eight and a half years, closing in 2016 after 3,279 performances, and is in the books as the longest-running Broadway show to play the Strip in Las Vegas history. Mr. Cloer was called “one of Vegas’ most accomplished showmen” by the Las Vegas Sun.

J. Robert Spencer is a Tony Award^®-nominated actor, independent film director, producer, and writer. He originated the role of Nick Massi in the Tony^® and GRAMMY Award-winning “Jersey Boys,” as well as the role of Dan Goodman in the Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway musical “Next To Normal.”

Quinn VanAntwerp played Bob Gaudio in “Jersey Boys” longer than any other actor in the show's history. After originating the role of Gaudio in the Toronto production(where he received a Dora Award Nomination for Best Actor,) he went on to perform over 2,500 performances both on tour and on Broadway.

DEC. 15 / 16, 2017 (FRIDAY / SATURDAY) -- THE UTAH SYMPHONY PRESENTS AN EVENING OF WINTER WONDERS WITH TONY AWARD^® -WINNER BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL

Join the Utah Symphony on December 15 and 16 as Broadway legend and Tony Award^® -winner Brian Stokes Mitchell takes the stage for a special night of holiday cheer, featuring iconic Christmas songs such as “White Christmas” and “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch!” This is a performance not to miss! Tickets range from $23-$93 and can be purchased at utahsymphony.org or by calling (801) 533-6683.

Dubbed “the last leading man” by the New York Times, Tony Award^® -winner Brian Stokes Mitchell has enjoyed a career that spans Broadway, television, film, and concert appearances with the country’s finest conductors and orchestras. Mr. Mitchell received Tony^®, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle awards for his star turn in “Kiss Me, Kate.” He also gave Tony^®-nominated performances in “Man of La Mancha,” “August Wilson’s King Hedley II,” and “Ragtime.” Other notable Broadway shows include “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” “Jelly’s Last Jam,” and “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.” An extremely versatile and in-demand singer, Mr. Mitchell has performed at venues spanning the worlds of jazz, opera, pops, country, and musical theater.

DEC. 16, 2017 (SATURDAY) -- THE UTAH SYMPHONY PRESENTS “HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS!” TWO EARLY AFTERNOON PERFORMANCES OF HOLIDAY CLASSICS

On December 16, help stage the holiday scene by hearing your wintry favorites performed live by the Utah Symphony. Kids from one to ninety-two will enjoy the musical gifts on stage, with a joyful sing-along closing out the concert. There may even be a special appearance by the jolly man himself. Tickets range from $8-$20 and can be purchased at utahsymphony.org or by calling (801) 533-6683.

DEC. 19, 2017 (TUESDAY) -- THE UTAH SYMPHONY INVITES YOU TO JOIN SUPERSTAR LEANN RIMES ON HER “TODAY IS CHRISTMAS” TOUR 2017

Join LeAnn Rimes and the Utah Symphony on December 19 for an intimate and soulful Christmas performance, featuring her holiday classics, greatest hits, and songs from her new critically acclaimed album “Remnants.” Tickets range from $45-$125 and can be purchased at utahsymphony.org or by calling (801) 533-6683.

LeAnn Rimes is an internationally acclaimed singer and ASCAP Award-winning songwriter. She has sold more than 44 million units globally and has won two GRAMMY Awards, 12 Billboard Music Awards, two World Music Awards, three Academy of Country Music Awards, one Country Music Association Award, and one Dove Award. At the age of 14 Ms. Rimes won “Best New Artist,” making her the youngest recipient of a GRAMMY Award.

DEC. 21 / 22 / 23, 2017 (THURSDAY / FRIDAY / SATURDAY) -- THE UTAH SYMPHONY’S ‘FILMS IN CONCERT’ SERIES IS BACK WITH “HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS ™”

On December 21, 22, and 23, cars will fly, trees fight back, and a mysterious house-elf will appear at the start of Harry Potter’s (Daniel Radcliffe) second year at Hogwarts. Adventure and danger await when bloody writing on a wall announces “the Chamber of Secrets has been opened.” Harry, Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint,) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) will require all their magical abilities and courage to save Hogwarts! Audiences will be able to relive the magic of the film in high-definition on a giant screen all while hearing the Utah Symphony perform John Williams’ unforgettable score. Tickets range from $29-$77 and can be purchased at utahsymphony.org or by calling (801) 533-6683.

American composer John Williams has scored more than 100 films including: “Jaws,” eight “Star Wars” movies, “E.T. ,” “Schindler’s List,” “Jurassic Park,” and the first three “Harry Potter™” films. As of 2015, Mr. Williams has 49 Academy-Award nominations, making him the highest-achieving nominee of our time. He has received 3 EMMY Awards, and more than 20 GRAMMY Awards. In 2004, Mr. Williams was a Kennedy Center Honoree and was given a National Medal of the Arts in 2009.

The first ever 2017-2018 “Films in Concert” series has previously featured box office favorites “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” “This film series shows our commitment to creating exciting programming that inspires a whole new generation of symphony goers,” said Utah Symphony | Utah Opera President and CEO Paul Meecham. The final performance in the film series is the Western film classic “High Noon” on February 17, 2018.

Brian Stokes Mitchell, vocalist

Tickets range from $23-$93 and can be purchased at utahsymphony.org or by calling (801) 533-6683.

LeAnn Rimes, guest artist and vocalist

Tickets range from $45-$125 and can be purchased at utahsymphony.org or by calling (801) 533-6683.

Orchestra Sponsor: The George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation

RELATED EVENTS

VIP packages for the “LeAnn Rimes: Today is Christmas tour” with the Utah Symphony are available for purchase and are listed as follows:

1. The ‘I Still Believe in Santa Claus’ Enhanced Experience – $249 per ticket package – VIP1

-Includes: one front row seat, meet and greet, one secret Santa gift personally chosen by LeAnn Rimes, one copy of sheet music signed by LeAnn Rimes, invitation to the ‘Today is Christmas’ lounge, one souvenir laminate, crowd-free merchandise shopping time, and an on-site concert host.

2. The ‘Spirit of Christmas’ Enhanced Experience – $199 per ticket package – VIP2

-Includes: one premium reserved ticket in the first five rows, meet and greet, one copy of sheet music signed by LeAnn Rimes, invitation to the ‘Today is Christmas’ lounge, one souvenir laminate, crowd-free merchandise shopping time, and an on-site concert host.

3. The ‘Celebrate Me Home’ Enhanced Experience – $149 per ticket package – VIP3

-Includes: one premium reserved ticket in the first fifteen rows, one copy of sheet music signed by LeAnn Rimes, invitation to the ‘Today is Christmas’ lounge, one souvenir laminate, and an on-site concert host.

About the Utah Symphony

Founded in 1940, the Utah Symphony performs more than 175 concerts each season and offers all Utahns easy access to world-class live musical performances of the world’s greatest music in the state’s top venues. Since being named the orchestra’s seventh music director in 2009, Thierry Fischer has attracted leading musicians and top soloists, refreshed programming, drawn increased audiences, and galvanized community support. In addition to numerous regional and domestic tours, including the Mighty 5® Tour of Utah’s national parks, the Utah Symphony has embarked on seven international tours and performed at Carnegie Hall in spring 2016 coinciding with the orchestra’s 75th anniversary celebrations. The Utah Symphony has released more than 100 recordings, including Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 in fall 2017, Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 (2015) and Dawn to Dust (2016), which features three Utah Symphony-commissioned works by Nico Muhly, Andrew Norman, and Augusta Read Thomas. Utah Symphony | Utah Opera, the orchestra’s parent organization, reaches 450,000 residents in Utah and the Intermountain region, with educational outreach programs serving around140,000 students annually. In addition to performances in its home in Salt Lake City, Abravanel Hall, and concerts throughout the state of Utah, the Utah Symphony participates in Utah Opera's four annual productions at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre and presents the six-week Deer Valley® Music Festival each summer in Park City, Utah. With its many subscription, education, and outreach concerts and tours, the Utah Symphony is one of the most engaged orchestras in the nation. For more information visit www.utahsymphony.org

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The Season Sponsor for Utah Symphony | Utah Opera is the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation.

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