St. Louis Symphony Orchestra: Mercy Holiday Celebration

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

Some December afternoons deserve more than a quick errand and a cup of something warm. On December 20, 2026, at 2:00 PM, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra brings its Mercy Holiday Celebration to Powell Symphony Hall in St. Louis. It's a seasonal concert, built around live orchestral music and a lineup that gives the afternoon a clear shape. If you want the holidays to feel like an occasion and not just a date on the calendar, this is a strong place to start.

Start with the people on the bill. Erin Freeman is listed as conductor, Norm Lewis appears on vocals, and the St. Louis Symphony Chorus joins the orchestra. That combination is the draw. An orchestra, a chorus and a featured vocalist in one room means the sound comes from many voices and instruments working together, and that is hard to match through earbuds or a living-room speaker. Hearing it live, in a concert hall, is the whole point.

Then there's the timing. A 2:00 PM start on a Sunday leaves room to build a day around it. Bring your parents, your partner or the friend who always says the season gets away from them. Plan lunch beforehand, or save the conversation for afterward, when the music is still in your head. Shared plans like these are how holiday memories get made: you sit side by side, listen together and head back out into the December air with something to talk about. If this one belongs on your calendar, secure your seats for the Mercy Holiday Celebration at Powell Symphony Hall and give your holiday season a centerpiece.