St. Louis Symphony Orchestra: Mercy Holiday Celebration

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra: Mercy Holiday Celebration at Powell Symphony Hall

Some Saturday afternoons in December deserve more than a quick errand and a cup of something warm. On December 19, 2026, at 2:00 PM, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra: Mercy Holiday Celebration settles into Powell Symphony Hall, and the plan writes itself. Put on something nice. Head downtown. Spend an afternoon of the season with a full orchestra instead of a playlist.

The program puts real names on the stage. Erin Freeman conducts. Norm Lewis joins on vocals. The St. Louis Symphony Chorus adds its voices to the occasion. That is a conductor shaping the sound, a featured vocalist stepping forward and a chorus filling out the picture, all in one room, all live. Recordings can bring a holiday mood into your kitchen. They can't put you in the same space as the people making the music, and that difference is what this afternoon is about.

Think about who you'd bring. A parent, a friend, a partner, anyone who wants a December plan that feels like an occasion. A 2:00 PM start keeps the day open for lunch beforehand or a stroll through St. Louis afterward. Years from now, you probably won't remember the errands you ran that weekend. You may remember the afternoon you sat in Powell Symphony Hall and let the season come to you through orchestra, chorus and voice. Make the date, invite your people and reserve your seats for the Mercy Holiday Celebration.