While the weather outside wasn’t all that frightful, inside Kleinhans Music Hall it was definitely delightful for the annual Jingle Bell Jam.
Prior to the January 15 program, there were lots of activities for the children including making Christmas cards for members of the military who will be away from home on Christmas.
Conductor Jaman Dunn and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra were joined by the Royal Academy of Ballet and Dance and the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts for a fun filled afternoon of music and dance.
The program opened with the “Christmas Canticles” – a medley of Christmas songs.
After a little quiz about snow, Jaman Dunn invited the audience to sing along as the BPO performed the most popular song about snow – “Let it Snow”.
No holiday concert is complete without a little music from Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker”, the BPO was joined by the Royal Academy of Ballet for “Waltz of the Snowflakes”.
And what Christmas program is complete without a litt movie music? Joined by the BAVPA the BPO performed three songs from the movie “Home Alone” – “Somewhere in My Memory”, “Star of Bethlehem”, and “Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas”.
The BPO and BAVPA performed the ever popular “Christmastime is Here” from a “Charlie Brown Christmas”.
Taking a break from his busy schedule of getting all the toys ready, Santa Claus made a visit for a performance of “You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch”. Then after a quick lesson from Jaman Dunn on conducting, Santa led the Orchestra in the fun and popular “Sleigh Ride”.
Finish out the afternoon of music, Santa led the audience in “A Holly and Jolly Sing-a-long” that included “Deck the Halls”, “Jingle Bells”, “Jolly Old St. Nicholas”, “Up on the Rooftop”, “Frosty the Snowman”, “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer”, and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”.
After the concert, guests were invited to join Santa in the Mary Seaton room for milk and cookies.