The Marquette Symphony Orchestra continues its 2025–26 season with its annual "Sounds of the Holidays" program, a community favorite that brings together familiar carols, seasonal classics, and collaborations with guest artists. Music Director and Conductor Octavio Más-Arocas visited the studio to share what makes this year’s celebration meaningful for both performers and audiences.
Más-Arocas noted that the concert has long served as a seasonal gathering point for the community. This year, he returns to the podium for a program filled with widely loved works, including Hark the Herald Angels Sing, selections from The Nutcracker, The Christmas Song, Radetzky March, and Sleigh Ride, along with a lively holiday sing-along. The roster also includes guest conductors Tonya Darner and Iris Katers, special guest vocalists, and the NMU Arts Chorale and University Choir under Dr. Erin Colwitz.
While the Saturday evening performance at Kaufman Auditorium is currently sold out, seats remain for the Sunday matinee on December 14 at 2 p.m. The afternoon performance offers a shorter, family-friendly format, designed to introduce younger audiences to the orchestra while retaining the spirit and energy of the full program.
Kurt Hauswirth spoke with Mas-Arocas about the upcoming concerts:
The MSO continues its season in 2026 with concerts featuring the music of John Williams in January, an operatic evening centered on Carmen in March, and an April finale showcasing the Young Artist Concerto Competition winner alongside Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony.
More information and ticket details are available through NMU Ticketing outlets and marquettesymphony.org.
