“I am very excited about the Allentown Symphony’s ‘Holiday Pops’ Concert that features two choruses, dancers and Santa,” says Diane Wittry, Allentown Symphony Orchestra Music Director and Conductor.

Allentown Symphony Orchestra presents “Holiday Pops,” 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 21, Miller Symphony Hall, Allentown.

“It is wonderful that we can all come together as a community to celebrate the holidays. You will hear some familiar melodies set in new, exciting orchestra arrangements that feature our guest vocal soloist Camille Zamora, and some pieces that feature members of our wonderful orchestra,” Wittry says.

The concert opens with the orchestra’s performance of Don Sebesky’s “A Christmas Scherzo.” The holiday favorite includes the selections “Bring A Torch, Jeannette, Isabella;” “Here We Come A-Wassailing;” “The Holly and the Ivy;” “I Saw Three Ships;” “O Come, All Ye Faithful” and “O Tannenbaum.”

Vocalist Camille Zamora joins the orchestra in the performance of two selections: “Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” an Edward Pola and George Wyle tune arranged by Mark Hayes, and the Bob Krogstad arrangement of the popular Leroy Anderson and Mitchell Parish song “Sleigh Ride.”

Composer Anthony DiLorenzo describes his unique and fun arrangement of the traditional Catalan carol “Fum, Fum, Fum”: “My take on this, imagine if one were to be walking around in the world of Hogwarts where your favorite Christmas carols were being played … with a slight dark twist.”

As an animated television special and film, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” has become an annual tradition. Jerry Brubaker’s arrangement begins with a blues version of “You’re a Mean One, Mister Grinch,” then moves into the happier, more hopeful “He Carves the Roast Beast” and “Welcome Christmas.”

In 1857, Pittsburgh-born Reverend John Henry Hopkins, Jr. composed “We Three Kings” based on the journey of the magi in Matthew 2:1. The Jeff Tyzik jazz waltz arrangement of the piece features soloist Zamora followed by the Jack Bullock arrangement “Fantasia on We Three Kings” showcasing dancers from the Accent School of Dance.

John Clayton, Jr.’s “A Song for Christmas,” the Hayes’ arrangement of “Believe” from “The Polar Express” and DiLorenzo’s “The Holidays are Here Again” close the concert first-half.

After intermission, the entertainment continues with “A Christmas Overture” containing variations on “Deck the Halls” in the styles of Mozart, Gabrieli, Count Basie and Stravinsky and Tim Baren’s “Joy,” an up-tempo arrangement of Bach’s masterpiece “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.”

The orchestra performs two well-known movements of “Navidad Latina!” by DiLorenzo, “Mi Burrito Sabanero” (“My Little Donkey of the Savannah”) and “Feliz Navidad” (“Merry Christmas”).

Musicians Sofia Nowik, cello, and Camilla Yoder, English horn, feature in Tyzik’s song for Hanukkah “Miz Zeh Hidlik” (“Behold the Lights”), with music ascribed to Shmuel Shapira of Kibbutz Ein Harod, Israel, who is said to have modeled it on a Polish Hassidic melody.

Cellist Nowik is joined by violinist Eliezer Gutman for “Greensleeves,” which historians believe dates to Elizabethan times (1558-1603). The song became a Christmas tradition when in 1871 the tune was paired with lyrics about the birth of Jesus.

Zamora and the Parkland High School Chorale present Tyzik’s “Silent Night” with the Chorale continuing in performance of John Rutter’s “Angels’ Carol.”

Zamora rejoins the Chorale for Rutter’s “Esta Noche” (“Be Joyful Tonight”) followed by Kirby Shaw’s arrangement of the popular “Zat You Santa Claus,” featuring the Chorale and Accent Dance.

The concert concludes with guest artists joining the audience in David Clydesdale’s sing-along “Jingle All the Way.”

Says Wittry, “Let your heart be warmed by the beautiful music and of course you get to join us in a fun sing-along at the end of the concert.”

Soprano Camille Zamora has garnered acclaim for her dramatic and nuanced interpretations of repertoire ranging from Mozart to tango. This past season featured Zamora’s Kennedy Center debut, performances at the U.S. Capitol with Yo-Yo Ma and five new operatic roles including a tour de force double-bill of “La Voix Humaine” and “I Pagliacci” with Opera Columbus.

In her fourth year as Parkland High School Director of Choirs, Alison Lagan oversees five curricular choirs, teaches music as well as Advance Placement Music Theory and directs the spring musical productions.

Celebrating her 29th year as Artistic Director of the Accent School of Dance, Karen Rich has performed extensively throughout her career, including Atlantic City, N.J.; World Trade Center, New York City, and in the former Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia, as an Eagles football team cheerleader.

The El Sistema Lehigh Valley Choir, directed by Choral Director Amanda Haag, provides daily instrumental and choir instruction, academic tutoring, and leadership and mentoring opportunities for more than 120 students grades kindergarten through 12 from more than 20 Lehigh Valley schools.

“Holiday Pops,” Allentown Symphony Orchestra, 2 p.m., 7:30 p.m. Dec. 21; Miller Symphony Hall, 23 N. Sixth St., Allentown; Free tickets for those age 21 and under. Tickets: box office: 610-432-6715; https://www.millersymphonyhall.org

“Classical View” is a column about classical music concerts, conductors and performers. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnon-line.com