Photo Credit: Amos Barkan

St. Louis’ dynamic 60 piece Compton Heights Concert Band, famous for its family friendly summer pops concerts “Musical Mondays” series in Tower Grove Park, presents its 16th Annual Holiday Pops Spectacular at the Peabody Opera House, Tuesday, December 23, 2014, 7:30 PM, one performance only, featuring tenor Hugh Smith, much beloved by St. Louis audiences since his stunning appearance here in 1996 with the St. Louis Symphony and Richard Hayman.

The Peabody Opera concert marks a gala Holiday homecoming of sorts for the world performer, Hugh Smith, the St. Louis Metro Singers, Gina Galati, and the Compton Heights Concert Band with 2010 marking their last Holiday Pops Spectacular appearance together.

The show features the Compton Heights Concert Band under the direction of Edward Dolbashian, in holiday favorites such as Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride, Christmas carols, sacred gems O Holy Night and a magnificent Hallelujah Chorus Finale from Handel’s Messiah in a rousing audience sing-along featuring the Compton Heights Concert Band, Hugh Smith, the St. Louis Metro Singers, and Gina Galati, soprano, Winter Opera founder.  Gina will also sing with Smith.  The St. Louis Metro Singers will present holiday medleys and back up Smith in several selections.  The Compton Heights Band and the St. Louis Metro Singers will be featured together, as well.

All tickets, except Gold Patrons, can be purchased online or by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.  All group sales which include special discounts can be ordered through the Peabody Opera House Group Sales (314) 499-7676.

Gold Patron tickets are the best seats in the center Orchestra section; they include Free VIP designated parking at the conveniently located Abrams Building parking lot, the post-concert reception with Hugh Smith at Gio’s Restaurant and Bar, Peabody Energy Tower, 7th & Market, with complimentary tower parking.  Call the Compton Heights Band Office for Gold Patron Tickets (314) 776-2227. 

The Compton Heights Concert Band was founded by Compton Heights resident, Harry Swanger, in 1976 to provide music for neighborhood events.  The organization grew and plans for a series of concerts in 1980 in Tower Grove Park started the ball rolling to today’s busy summer schedule, year-round rehearsals and Bandwagon Hall bingos (every Friday and Saturday night in South County at 2151 Lemay Ferry Road (Lemay Ferry & Reavis Barracks) in the Midwest Bankcentre Plaza).  The Compton Heights Concert Band rehearses in the former Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 3120 Lafayette Avenue, which is the center piece of a planned development including an event center, concert hall, replica English Gothic banquet facility, parking garage, and finished office space, being developed by Harry Swanger, Compton Heights Band President.