It is beginning to sound a lot like Christmas thanks to the Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra, the Choir of the North, The University Chorus, The Northland Children's Choir, and Concerto Competition Winners.

The Design Alaska Family Holiday Celebration concert on Sunday was an interesting combination of songs representative of the season.

The stage of the Davis Concert Hall was packed with over 200 people, three choirs and the entire symphony. The audience was equally packed and everyone enjoyed the performance of music to usher in the season.

The concert was expertly planned for maximum audience appreciation. The first half consisted of skillfully orchestrated winter pieces performed by the Fairbanks Symphony and accompanied by the four competition winners, 11-year-old Stefan Barney on the cello, violinist Zachary Spontak, Cellist Patrick Hopkins and vocalist Vanessa Cox.

"I was quite nervous," confessed Barney, "but my teacher Peggy Swartz told me to have fun so I did. I was exciting to perform with the orchestra."

The soloists' pieces were quite long, and the family-filled audience grew restless, though the pieces were performed expertly under the conduction of Eduard Zilberkant.

During the intermission and before the concert begain a silent auction was held with refreshments. The symphony association also raffled off a train rip and condor tickets to Germany.

The second half of the performance was when the choirs joined the fun, adding vocal accompaniment to the Symphony. The audience was encouraged to sing along with the songs they knew such as "White Christmas" and "Silent Night." The words were displayed where everyone could see. Choir directors John Hopkins and Melissa Downes conducted some of the pieces including the clever Rutter Carols and "Away in a Manger."

The Northland Children's Choir added its angelically high voices to the mix. They were particularly entertaining doing the echoed verses in "Do you Hear What I Hear?"

"Even though I'm not a big fan of Christmas music it was a great experience and I really enjoyed singing with the choir," said Jade Smith who sang second saprano in the University Chorus.

The concert concluded with Handel's moving Hallelujah Chorus and resounding applause from the audience.

After the applause a man in the audience proclaimed: "That was a perfect way to start the holiday season."