The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra (FSO) Holiday Spectacular Concert promises to be a “spectacular” event. With music, dancing, food and Santa Claus, the concert will have something for the whole family. The program will be held Saturday, Dec. 11 at 7:30 p.m. at Reeves Auditorium on the campus of Methodist University. Conducting the program is FSO Music Director Fouad Fakhouri.

The concert will feature all holiday music including songs from “The Nutcracker,” “Greensleeves,” “Sleigh Ride,” “Christmas Festival,” and “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” which is the favorite of FSO Executive Director Mark Savage.

Soprano Erin Matson will perform a solo. Matson teaches at Fayetteville Academy. In addition, Savage and Dr. Don Parker of Fayetteville State University will perform “The Typewriter” written by Leroy Anderson using an actual typewriter.

“It’s a LC Smith Manual Typewriter” says Savage “I bought it at an antique store in Memphis, Tenn.”

Savage has performed the song several times and you can catch a few of his performances on YouTube.

And what is a holiday concert without Santa Claus? Savage says Santa will greet guests as they arrive at the auditorium and sit next to people in the audience. Santa may even conduct a song if the audience agrees to it.

There will be dancing at the concert as well. Denise Strother and Roland Bersh III will dance to “Skaters Waltz.” Strother and Bersh, along with dancers from Roland’s Dance Studio, will dance to “Blue Danube.”

With a packed performance schedule, Savage says planning for the concert began in December 2009.

“It’s a big project” he said. “We wanted to have a lot of fun this year”

Tickets for the Holiday Spectacular Concert can be purchased from the FSO office, at www.fayettevillesymphony.org, or at Reeves Auditorium the evening of the concert. Ticket prices start at $8 for students, $20 for military and seniors, and $25 for adults. Call the symphony offi ce at 433-4690 for more information.

Photo: Fayetteville FSO.