It’s become a popular festive tradition in the city.

You can expect Christmas classics and festive community spirit as a popular Christmas concert returns.

placeholder image — Sunderland Symphony Orchestra | Submitted

Sunderland Symphony Orchestra (SSO) will be performing its highly popular Annual Christmas Concert on Saturday, December 5 at 4pm at St Gabriel’s Church, Chester Road.

David Milner, SSO musical director, said: “We’re delighted to have the St Anthony’s Girls choir with us again and also three new musical pieces to share with our lovely audience for this year’s annual Christmas concert.

“Also, a warm invitation for children to join in with the orchestra with the great Christmas classic Sleigh Ride. As usual, it’s a concert for the audience to join in with some well known carols”.

The concert will offer a varied arrangements of festive music, including Wassail Dances by Philip Lane; Stille Nacht arranged by Chip Davis & Calvin Custer; Bells of Christmas arranged by Bob Krogstad; and that all time Christmas favourite, Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride.

Mark Greenfield, SSO relational lead, said that the Annual Christmas Concerts have proved hugely popular with families over the past two years and says free tickets often get snapped up.

The SSO Annual Christmas Concert is a free but ticketed event with a retiring collection to support the ongoing offer of orchestral concerts within the city. To obtain tickets for the Christmas Concert visit: https://sunderlandso.eventbrite.co.uk