Take a Musical Holiday this season and start a new family tradition with the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra. On Saturday, Dec. 8, at 7:30 p.m. in the Reeves Auditorium on the campus of Methodist University, the symphony, under the baton of Maestro Fouad Fakhouri, will present an evening of musical selections from Broadway hits as well as holiday events.

“We are really targeting families with this one,” said Christine Kastner, president/CEO of the FSO. “Our little friend in his red suit will be there, and we’re going to have the instrument petting zoo in the lobby starting at 6:45 p.m., so everybody can try out the instruments. We want this to become one of the holiday traditions for families to bring their kids.”

The first half of the concert will feature music from Broadway hits West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof and Les Miserables. “We are having several guest vocalists that night,” Kastner said. “We worked with the theater to try and fi nd some local singers. I think it will be entertaining for kids because they will be watching someone perform.

“Ken Griggs, who just fi nished Around the World in 80 Days at the(Cape Fear Regional) Theatre, is singing with us that night. Then we’re having a soloist from Greensboro come in, Jason McKinney, and he will sing“Tradition” from Fiddler on the Roof. Halle Sullivan, a local Fayetteville girl who was Nala on Broadway in The Lion King a number of years ago, is also going to perform with us.”

Additionally, Phoebe Hall, Paul Wilson and David Duke will join Griggs and Sullivan in performing a number of songs from Les Miserables, including “Bring Him Home” (Griggs), “I Dreamed a Dream” (Sullivan), “Master of the House” (Hall and Wilson) and “Stars” (Duke).

Of course, no holiday music event is complete without a little help from the audience.

“We’re doing the sing-along again,” said Kastner, “and the lyrics are in the program.” Concertgoers will enjoy holiday favorites such as “Silent Night,” “Joy to the World” and “Jingle Bells.”

“Our goal with this concert is that it will be an annual family thing that you do to get ready for the holidays,” Kastner said.

And that’s a holiday great gift to our community.

Tickets for the Musical Holiday concert are available at $5 for students, $20 for military and seniors 65 and older and $25 for adults. Children under 12 are free. For information or to order tickets, please contact the FSO at (910) 433-4690 or email info@fayettevillesymphony.org.