Holiday Pops 2025 Week 3 - Kids' Matinees

Led by conductor Keith Lockhart, the Boston Pops, known affectionately as “America’s Orchestra,” performs an exciting and eclectic mix of orchestral arrangements from a wide range of traditions including Broadway and the great American songbook, film music, classical, jazz, pop, country, folk, and, of course, holiday classics. The Pops was created in 1885 as the “light classical” summer-season venture of the Boston Symphony. The Boston Pops Orchestra reached its current iconic status during the 50-year tenure of the legendary Arthur Fiedler, who was succeeded in 1980 by the equally renowned film composer John Williams. Keith Lockhart took the helm in 1995 and recently celebrated his 25th anniversary season. It was Fiedler who started the tradition of Pops performances on the Charles River Esplanade, including the annual Fourth of July celebration, brought the Pops to television with Evening at Pops (1970-2004), and initiated Holiday Pops, which marked its 50th anniversary in 2023. Fiedler welcomed to our stages dynamic, world-class guest artists including Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Julia Child, and Bob Hope. That tradition continues today with Keith Lockhart working with such stars as Brian Stokes Mitchell, The B-52s, Chaka Khan, Nick Jonas, and Rhiannon Giddens. Through it all the orchestra has remained of the most recorded, familiar, and beloved ensembles in the world today.

View the Boston Pops roster and musician bios

Steve Colby, Sound Designer | Pamela Smith, Lighting Designer

The Boston Pops Orchestra may be heard on Boston Pops Recordings, RCA Victor, Sony Classical, and Philips Records.

Steinway & Sons Pianos, selected exclusively for Symphony Hall.

Special thanks to Fidelity Investments, Lead Season Sponsor, and Fairmont Copley Plaza, Official Hotel of the Boston Pops.

New arrangements and works for the Boston Pops are generously supported by the Cecile Higginson Murphy Pops Programming Fund.

Broadcasts of the Boston Pops are heard on 99.5 CRB.

Programs and artists subject to change.

The BSO’s 2025-26 season is supported in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, which receives support from the State of Massachusetts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Boston Symphony Orchestra, Inc.
Board of Trustees | Board of Advisors | Staff and Administration

Note by David Coleman

The Good News Voyage is a celebration of the American folk music known today as the Negro Spiritual—many songs of which sound joyful and hopeful even though composed during times of great struggle and oppression. Of course, the “good news” refers to the Gospel message—specifically, in this arrangement, the Christmas joy of the Nativity story. The Good News Voyage takes us on a journey from the dialects and musical sounds of West Africa, where many enslaved people had roots, to those of the Caribbean and of America—signifying that music and culture of the African Diaspora is international, and the journey continues. You will hear “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” arguably the most famous Christmas-themed spiritual, sung in Swahili. I wanted to highlight that our American gospel music today is forever connected to Africa, and this piece highlights only a small portion of that exploration.

David Coleman, arranger and orchestrator

In these concerts, The Good News Voyage is accompanied by evocative images by award-winning artist, children’s book author/illustrator, and teacher Ashley Bryan (1923-2022). Born in Harlem and raised in the Bronx, Bryan taught at Dartmouth College before retiring to Little Cranberry Island in Maine, where he lived for three decades before spending his final years in Texas. He steadfastly pursued artistic passion despite facing numerous obstacles in his early career. Learn more about Mr. Bryan at ashleybryancenter.org.

Images from What a Morning! The Christmas Story in Black Spirituals by John Langstaff and illustrated by Ashley Bryan presented through special arrangement with Atheneum/Simon & Schuster. 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020. Copyright 1987 Ashley Bryan. All rights reserved.

JINGLE BELLS
Words and music by J. S. Pierpont

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!
Oh what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!
Oh what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh.

Dashing thro’ the snow, in a one-horse open sleigh,
O’er the fields we go, laughing all the way;
Bells on bobtail ring, making spirits bright;
What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song to-night.

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!
Oh what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!

RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER
Words and music by Johnny Marks

Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer, 
Had a very shiny nose.
And if you ever saw it,
You would even say it glows.

All of the other reindeer
Used to laugh and call him names.
They never let poor Rudolph
Join in any reindeer games.

Then one foggy Christmas Eve,
Santa came to say:
“Rudolph, with your nose so bright,
Won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?”

Then how the reindeer loved him,
As they shouted out with glee:
“Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer,
You’ll go down in history!”

CHIPMUNK SONG
Words and music by Ross Bagdasarian

Christmas, Christmas time is near
Time for joy and time for cheer
We’ve been good but we can’t last
Hurry Christmas, hurry fast
Want a plane that loops the loop
Me, I want a hula hoop
We can hardly stand the wait
Please, Christmas, don’t be late

A HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS
Words and music by Johnny Marks

Have a holly jolly Christmas
It's the best time of the year
I don't know if there'll be snow
But have a cup of cheer

Have a holly jolly Christmas
And when you walk down the street
Say hello to friends you know
And everyone you meet

Oh-ho, the mistletoe
Hung where you can see
Somebody waits for you
Kiss her once for me

Have a holly jolly Christmas
And in case you didn't hear
Oh, by golly
Have a holly jolly Christmas this year

DECK THE HALL
Words by Thomas Oliphant / Music traditional

Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
Fa la la la la la la la!
'Tis the season to be jolly, …
Don we now our gay apparel, …
Troll the ancient Yuletide carol, …

See the blazing yule before us, …
Strike the harp and join the chorus, …
Follow me in merry measure, …
While I tell of Yuletide treasure,
Fa la la la la la la la!

FROSTY THE SNOWMAN
Words and music by Walter Rollins & Steve Nelson

Frosty the Snowman was a jolly, happy soul
With a corncob pipe and a button nose
And two eyes made out of coal.
Frosty the Snowman is a fairytale they say.
He was made of snow, but the children know
How he came to life one day.

There must have been some 
Magic in that old silk hat they found,
For when they placed it on his head,
He began to dance around. Oh!
Frosty the Snowman was alive as he could be
And the children say he could laugh and play
Just the same as you and me.

Thumpety thump thump, 
Thumpety thump thump, 

Look at Frosty go.
Thumpety thump thump, 
Thumpety thump thump,
Over the hills of snow.

WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS
Traditional

We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy new year.

Glad tidings we bring
To you and your kin
Glad tidings for Christmas
And a happy new year.

Now bring us some figgy pudding
Now bring us some figgy pudding
Now bring us some figgy pudding
And bring it us here.

We won't go until we’ve got some
We won't go until we’ve got some
We won't go until we’ve got some
So give it us here.

Glad tidings we bring
To you and your kin
Glad tidings for Christmas
And a happy new year.

We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy new year!

The Conductors Circle, created in January 2025, salutes the generosity of donors who have made leadership commitments to support the full breadth of the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s mission. Their exemplary investments in musical excellence, innovation, and service to our community resonate in every aspect of the BSO’s work.

The Conductors Circle encompasses all donors who have made combined contributions of $25,000 or more in fiscal year 2025 or fiscal year 2026 to the Boston Annual Fund, Pops Annual Fund, Tanglewood Annual Fund, or special operating projects.

For further information on the Conductors Circle, please contact the Development Office at 617-638-9276.

List reflects giving as of October 20, 2025

‡ indicates a deceased donor

FOUNDERS $100,000 AND ABOVE  
Noubar and Anna Afeyan
Josh and Anita Bekenstein 
Berry Drew Family Foundation 
Gregory E. Bulger Foundation/Gregory Bulger and Richard Dix 
Catherine and Paul Buttenwieser 
Bihua Chen and Jackson J. Loomis, Ph.D. 
Cynthia and Oliver Curme 
Deborah and Philip Edmundson 
Thomas and Winifred Faust 
Beth and Richard Fentin 
Michael L. Gordon 
Barbara and Amos Hostetter 
Charlie and Dorothy Jenkins/The Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Foundation 
Dr. and Mrs. Jeffrey M. Leiden 
Peter Li and Jean Qiu 
Joyce Linde ‡ 
Nancy and Richard Lubin 
Josh and Jessica Lutzker 
Cecile H. Murphy Charitable Foundation 
Rabbi Rex Perlmeter and Rabbi Rachel Hertzman
Plimpton Shattuck Fund 
Caroline and James Taylor 
Dr. Christoph Westphal MD PhD and Dr. Sylvia Westphal PhD 
Marillyn Tufte Zacharis 
Anonymous (2)

VIRTUOSO $50,000-$99,999  
Lloyd Axelrod, M.D. 
Liliana and Hillel Bachrach 
Linda J.L. Becker 
Matthew and Beverly Brown and Family
Bonnie and Terry Burman 
Ronald G. Casty 
R. Martin Chavez 
Mary L. Cornille 
Drs. Anna L. and Peter B. Davol 
Alan and Lisa Dynner 
Eitan and Malka Evan 
Nancy and Peter Finn 
Dr. Fredric C. Friedman and Mrs. Cathy Demain Mann 
Martha and Todd Golub 
The Grossman Family Charitable Foundation 
Richard and Nancy Heath 
Drs. James and Eleanor Herzog 
Albert A. Holman III and Susan P. Stickells 
King-White Family Foundation 
Tom Kuo and Alexandra DeLaite 
Elizabeth W. and John M. Loder 
Carmine A. and Beth V. Martignetti
Jane B. and Robert J. Mayer, M.D. 
Paul and Sandra Montrone Family 
Jerry and Mary ‡ Nelson 
Nancy and Jay Nichols 
Dana Leff Niedzielska and Lukasz Niedzielski
Cecilia O’Keefe 
Claudio and Penny Pincus 
Andrew and Suzanne Plump
Jim Pollin
Mitch and Hilary Pomerance 
Seán Rush and Carol C. McMullen 
Dr. Kenan E. Sahin and Andrea TN Sahin 
Boston Seed Capital, LLC, Nicole Maria Stata
Antoine and Emily van Agtmael 
Stephen ‡ and Dorothy Weber 
Jenny Williams 
Brooks and Linda Zug 
Anonymous (6) 

SPONSOR $25,000-$49,999
Amy and David Abrams 
Bob and Pam Adams 
Jim and Virginia ‡ Aisner 
Judith and Harry ‡ Barr 
Chris and Darcey Bartel
Ted Berk and Naomi Weinberg 
Clark and Susana Bernard 
Jim and Nancy Bildner 
Joan and John ‡ Bok 
Molly and Nick Booth 
Carol and Bob Braun
Lorraine Bressler
Jan Brett and Joseph Hearne 
C. Thomas Brown  
BSO Members’ Association 
Drs. Andrea and Brad Buchbinder 
Dr. Lawrence H. and Roberta L. Cohn
Lynn Dale and Frank Wisneski 
Chester and Joy Douglass 
Joanne and Jerry ‡ Dreher 
Hermine Drezner and Jan ‡ Winkler 
Terry B. Eastman 
Ginger and George Elvin 
Douglas and Christine Emond 
Rabbi Daniel Freelander and Rabbi Elyse Frishman 
Adaline H. Frelinghuysen 
The Frelinghuysen Foundation 
Dr. David Fromm 
Joy S. Gilbert 
Patricia Romeo-Gilbert and Paul B. Gilbert ‡   
Mr. Harold Grinspoon and Ms. Diane Troderman 
Carol B. Grossman
Deborah Elfers Haffenreffer and Mark Haffenreffer 
Scott and Ellen Hand 
Jeanne Hayden and Andrew Szajlai 
Nathan and Marilyn Hayward
Alexander Healy 
Ricki Tigert Helfer and Michael S. Helfer 
Minnie and Brent Henry 
Valerie Ann and Allen I Hyman MD 
Carol and George Jacobstein 
The Jameson Family Foundation 
Margery and Everett Jassy 
Leslie and Stephen Jerome 
Prof. Paul L. Joskow and Dr. Barbara Chasen Joskow 
The Kandell Fund, in memory of Florence and Leonard S. Kandell 
Rita J. and Stanley H. Kaplan Family Foundation, Inc. 
Stephen B. Kay and Lisbeth L. Tarlow
Steve Kidder and Judy Malone 
Drs. Prudence P Kline and Paul L Kimmel
Seth A. and Beth S. Klarman 
Meg and Joseph Koerner 
Roger and Myrna Landay 
Catherine Lang and Andre Girard 
Anne R. Lovett and Stephen G. Woodsum 
Sally and Tod MacKenzie 
Jay and Shirley Marks ‡ 
Linda A. Mason and Roger H. Brown
Joseph and Paula McNay, The New England Foundation 
Rebecca Gold and Nathan ‡ Milikowsky
Joan G. Monts 
Michael and Jia Monts 
Sandra Moose and Eric Birch ‡ 
In Loving Memory of Richard O’Brien 
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph M. Paresky 
Perles Family Foundation 
May and Daniel ‡ Pierce 
Eduardo Plantilla, M.D. and Lina Plantilla, M.D. 
Janet and Irv Plotkin 
William and Lia Poorvu 
William ‡ and Helen Pounds 
Rabb Family Foundation 
Nancy S. Raphael
Susan M. Richardson 
Louise C. Riemer 
Graham Robinson and Jeanne Yu 
Marc A. Rubenstein and Jill I. Hai  
Suzanne and Burton ‡ Rubin 
Karen and Kert Sabbath 
In loving memory of Howard A. Scarrow
Kristin and Roger Servison 
Arlene and Donald Shapiro 
Barbara and Peter Sidel
Carol and Irv Smokler  
Bridget and Nathan Somogie
Katherine Chapman Stemberg 
Theresa M. and Charles F. Stone III 
Ann and Michael Strem Fund 
Mr. and Mrs. Patrick J. Sullivan 
Susan and Jim Swartz
Jacqueline and Albert Togut 
Blair Trippe and David Harding 
Jonathan and Shari Turell
Mr. Nicholas Vantzelfde and Ms. Lauren Erb
Edward and Linda ‡ Wacks 
Linda and Daniel Waintrup  
June and Jeffrey Wolf 
Anonymous (6) 

The Fiedler Society embodies the commitment and vision of Arthur Fiedler, our beloved Boston Pops conductor who started and continued many of the musical traditions that enrich Boston today. The Boston Pops gathers communities to connect through the power and emotion of music, creates the playlist to festive holiday celebrations, and shares the joy of popular music from film scores, Broadway, classics from the American Songbook, and bold humanities-inspired collaborations. For more than 139 years, the Boston Pops has entertained audiences around the world, and since 1995, Conductor Keith Lockhart has gracefully led the orchestra with unwavering dedication and passion. The BSO is grateful to current Fiedler Society members, whose gifts provide essential funding and support for the Boston Pops at Symphony Hall, Tanglewood, and beyond. 

The following list recognizes the generosity of donors who have given $3,000-$24,999 to the Boston Pops Annual Fund. To explore membership opportunities, please contact the Friends Office at 617-638-9276.  

List reflects giving as of November 24, 2025

‡ Indicates a deceased donor 

FIEDLER CHORUS $15,000-$24,999
Rich and Holly Linton Jr.

FIEDLER ENSEMBLE $10,000-$14,999
Stephen and Joan Clark
Mary Dunbrack
Mr. Mark Legan and Mr. Douglas Legan
Dr. and Mrs. Frederick H. Lovejoy, Jr.
The McDonald Family in honor of Patricia McDonald
Paul & Joyce Mucci Family Foundation
The Arlene F Page and J David Page Charitable Trust
Richard and ‡ Bonnie Sullivan
Linh Vong & Kip Connor
Scott and Catherine Webster
Sidney and Deanna Wolk

FIEDLER BACKSTAGE $5,000-$9,999
Jamison Barr and Sharon Alzner
The Blue Family
Cathy and Jack Brennan
Mr. Daniel Brownell and Ms. Kelley Laurel
Camille Carlstrom
Mark Condon and Jean Hynes
Joseph C. & Jean E. Connolly
Jim and Shirley Curvey
Mr. and Mrs. James Davis
David and Tracey Frankel
Mr. Herbert H. Gowen II
Deirdre and Jeff Hannon
Mr. and Mrs. Blair E. Hendrix
Ernie and Kathy Herrman 
Alan and Wendy Issokson
Giselle and Elon Joffre
Tim and Kelly Johnson
Debbie Johnston
Ms. Danielle M. Lauzon and Mr. James R. Kasinger
In loving memory of Carlin F. Lynch
Karin and Leonard Monfredo
Jennifer and Brad Moyer
Doug and Karen Pettingell
Mary Jane Restuccia
Frederick J. and Bonnie M.‡ Rich
Carmichael Roberts and Sandra Park
Ravneesh Sachdev and Asavari Joshi
Carol Searle and Andrew Ley ‡
Ms. Karin Settel
Maggie and Jack Skenyon
Mr. Richard Tinsley
Mr. and Mrs. Eric VanDusen
Tony and Martha Vorlicek
Anna Marie Wagner and Rob Sinnott
Ed and Judi Zuker
Anonymous

FIEDLER SOCIETY $3,000-$4,999
Mr. and Mrs. Eugene F. Barnes III
Mr. and Mrs. Eliot Beal
Jill K. Bohlin
Mr. David R. Bolton
Mr. Roy M. Bourell
John and Trish Brennan
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cella
Philip D’Angelo
The DeRosa Family Trust In Loving Memory of Gigi
Ms. Elaine Dors and Mr. Jeff McHarg
Mr. and Mrs. William C. Doskocil
Florence Electric, LLC
Loretta H. and Gregory J. Gailius
Dr. and Mrs. Richard Gillis
Jonathan and Ruth Goode
Dorothy A. Grady
Virginia and Paul Guarracino
Mary Hines
Peter Hornstra
Mr. and Mrs. Carleton F. Kilmer
Nancy R. Kolligian
Ms. Deborah Lawrence Swallow
Thomas Lewis and Ailene Robinson
Keith and Emiley Lockhart
Emily and Malcolm MacNaught
Erin and Craig Majernik
Joe and Liz Marconi
The Robert ‡ and Catherine Matthews Family
The McHugh Family Foundation
Jeffrey Moore and Barbara Southcote
Charlene and Peter Mulhern
Slocumb H. and E. Lee ‡ Perry
Margaret and Fred Richardson
Robert T. Sanford
Carl & Kathy Schoene
Lars and Elizabeth Schuster
Massaro Stockard Trust
Susan Swigor Charitable Gift Fund
Mr. Timothy Tetreault and Dr. Abigail Childs
Bill and Anne Marie Teuber
Marc and Nadia Ullman
Susan Sprague Walters and Richard Walters
Howard and Karen Wilcox
Leslie Robinson Will and Anthony Will
Dr. Mary Witkowski
Mrs. Susan Zacharias
Anonymous (5)

The BSO gratefully acknowledges the partners listed below for their generous philanthropic support through major corporate sponsorships and the BSO Business Partners program. The operating support from these donors enables the Boston Symphony Orchestra to maintain an unparalleled level of musical excellence, to keep ticket prices at accessible levels, and to support extensive education and community engagement programs throughout the greater Boston area and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

$500,000 AND ABOVE
Fidelity Investments 

$250,000-$499,999   
Bank of America
Fairmont Copley Plaza 

$100,000-$249,999 
Arbella Insurance Foundation 

$25,000-$99,999 
Adage Capital Management
Bayberry Financial Services
Berkshire Health Systems  
Boston Business Journal
ESAI Energy LLC
Hemenway & Barnes LLP
New Balance  
Vertex  
Wood Mode 

$10,000-$24,999  
Abrams Capital 
Aqueduct Technologies, Inc. 
Arthur J. Hurley Company, Inc. 
Balyasny Asset Management 
Cabot Corporation 
Citizens Private Bank 
ESC Federal 
Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health  
Goodwin 
Morgan Stanley 
The Newbury of Brookline 
Rockland Trust  
Ruane Family Foundation 
Thomas A. and Georgina T. Russo Family Fund 

$5,000-$9,999 
The Baupost Group 
Brown & Brown Insurance Services, Inc 
CIBC Private Wealth Management 
Connell Family Office & Management, LLC 
The Eliot Hotel 
Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce 
Jack Madden Ford  
McLane Middleton 
Morgan Lewis 
Saks Fifth Avenue  
Verrill

$2,500-$4,999  
Acentech 
Allen & Gerritsen Inc. 
Chubb 
Cisco Systems, Inc. 
Fiduciary Trust 
Fire Equipment, Inc. 
Goddard House 
GOGO Charters Boston 
Kings Bowl America 
Natixis Investment Managers 
Old Town Trolley  
PwC 
Sametz Blackston Associates  
Wells Fargo Advisors

The BSO gratefully acknowledges the organizations listed below for their generous philanthropic support through foundation and government grants. The operating support from these donors enables the Boston Symphony Orchestra to maintain an unparalleled level of musical excellence, to keep ticket prices at accessible levels, and to support extensive education and community engagement programs throughout the Greater Boston area, the Berkshires, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Reflects giving as of  November 26, 2025

$250,000 AND ABOVE
Chiles Foundation
The Nancy Foss Heath and Richard B. Heath Educational, Cultural and Environmental Foundation 
Cecile H. Murphy Foundation
Amelia Peabody Charitable Fund
Anonymous

$100,000-$249,999 
Fromm Music Foundation 
Highland Street Foundation
Linde Family Foundation
Massachusetts Cultural Council 
Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund
Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism 
Miriam Shaw Fund

$50,000-$99,999 
Amazon Web Services
Institute of Museum and Library Services 
Jane and Jack Fitzpatrick Trust
Janey Fund Charitable Trust 
Kingsbury Road Charitable Foundation

$25,000-$49,999 
The Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Inc. 
Grew Family Charitable Foundation  
Miss Wallace M. Leonard Foundation  
Liberty Mutual Foundation, Inc.
Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation   
The Richard and Ann J. Prouty Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., Co-Trustee  
Richard Saltonstall Charitable Foundation  
Saquish Foundation
Carl and Ruth Shapiro Family Foundation 
Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation
Edwin S. Webster Foundation 
Yawkey Foundation 
Anonymous

$10,000-$24,999 
Elizabeth Taylor Fessenden Foundation 
Lucia B. Morrill Charitable Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., Co-Trustee 
Edward S. Taft Trust  
The Alice Ward Fund of The Rhode Island Foundation  

$5,000-$9,999  
American-Scandinavian Foundation  
The Amphion Foundation, Inc. 
Adelaide Breed Bayrd Foundation  
Katharine L.W. and Winthrop M. Crane 3rd Charitable Foundation  
Demoulas Foundation  
The Alice M. Ditson Fund of Columbia University
Feigenbaum Foundation  
Finlandia Foundation National 
Jackson and Irene Golden 1989 Charitable Trust
Greylock ABC Fund of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation
The E. Nakamichi Foundation 
Mattina R. Proctor Foundation
William E. and Bertha E. Schrafft Charitable Trust 
Stetson Whitcher Fund at the Boston Foundation
Stevens Foundation 

$2,500-$4,999
American Scandinavian Foundation
Brookline Youth Concerts Fund at the Boston Foundation
The Clayton F. and Ruth L. Hawkridge Foundation
Oxford Fund 
Albert O. Wilson Foundation 

$1,000-$2,499  
Apple Lane Foundation
Paul and Edith Babson Foundation
Cambridge Community Foundation 
Elizabeth Grant Fund at the Boston Foundation
Elizabeth Grant Trust 
Catherine McCarthy Memorial Trust Fund
Max and Sophie Mydans Foundation