Holiday Pops: Jazzy Winter Wonderland

Holiday Pops: Jazzy Winter Wonderland at Martin Woldson Theatre At The Fox

Holiday songs sound different when jazz musicians rearrange them. Familiar melodies take on swing rhythms, unexpected harmonies, and improvisation that makes each performance unpredictable. The Spokane Symphony's Holiday Pops: Jazzy Winter Wonderland leans into that approach, pairing a full orchestra with jazz vocalist Sara Jones for a December evening that gives tradition a soulful update. Saturday, December 12, 2026, at 7:30 PM, the Martin Woldson Theatre at The Fox hosts this concert for listeners who want holiday music that feels both festive and fresh.

Sara Jones won first place in the Billie Holiday Vocal Competition and has performed with the National Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, and Boston Pops Orchestra. Her professional background includes six years with the Soldiers' Chorus of the U.S. Army Field Band, and her recording Daydream A Little with Brazilian Jazz Group Trio Da Paz showcases her jazz sensibility. The program runs from Rimsky-Korsakov's Polonaise to Vince Guaraldi's Christmas Time is Here, plus a Nutcracker Mini Jazz Suite arranged by Jeff Tyzik. Conductor Morihiko Nakahara leads the orchestra and Spokane Symphony Chorale through an evening that balances concert-hall repertoire with holiday classics reimagined.

Bring someone who appreciates skilled musicians taking chances with well-known material. A partner who enjoys live orchestras, a friend who collects jazz vocals, or a parent who taught you the original versions of these songs: each will find something to appreciate in hearing a familiar tune reworked. The concert also includes a holiday sing-along and a visit from Santa Claus, adding warmth to the evening without turning it into children's programming.

If your ideal December night pairs festive spirit with musicianship, this is the show. Check ticket options for Holiday Pops: Jazzy Winter Wonderland and make space for a Saturday evening of jazz-infused holiday music at The Fox in Spokane.