By ANDY GRAY

Staff writer

Thomas A. Groth, executive director of the W.D. Packard Concert Band, strives to make its Family Christmas Spectacular bigger and better every year.

Joining the band, area dance schools, guest vocalists, guest musicians and costumed characters for the free concert Sunday at Packard Music Hall will be a children’s choir.

Voice students from Amanda Beagle Vocal Studio will perform a medley of holiday favorites called “Christmas from the ’50s.”

“I’ve tried to get a choir for a number of years, but it just has never worked out,” Groth said. “She is bringing a choir of about 20 students that will sing on the program.”

Groth likes to get as many young performers involved as possible in the holiday show. Not only does the Sunday performance draw an all-ages crowd, but the band will play an abbreviated version for two packed houses of children bused to the show from area schools on Friday

“The band enjoys playing (this show),” Groth said. “Everybody says the same thing that I do. I just love the feeling that the young people bring. It’s Christmas. They’re very exuberant, joyful, they sing. It’s really worth all the effort you put into it.”

For decades the concert has featured choreographed numbers performed by students from area dance schools. This year’s participating schools and the songs they’ll be dancing to are: D.C. Dancers, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”; James Dance & Performing Arts Center, “Toboggan / Ho HoHopak”; Fast Furious Feet, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”; and Diamond Dance Academy, “Sugar Plum Jam.”

Elizabeth Jernigan, a student at Pymatuning Valley School who made her Packard Band debut last year, returns to sing “Let It Go” from the animated film “Frozen” and selections from “The Polar Express.” Dominic Morataya, a student at Howland Middle School, will be featured on “The Toy Trumpet.”

Frequent guest vocalist Dana Victor will play Mrs. Claus, singing such traditional favorites as “We Need a Little Christmas,” “Jingle Bells” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” and one less-traditional tune, John Lennon’s “Happy Christmas (War Is Over).” Victor also will narrate the story of The Nativity, and the concert will end with an appearance by Mrs. Claus’ husband. A couple of costumed characters and the songs most associated with them will be featured as well.

Dean Wilson, a retired elementary vocal teacher with Boardman Schools, will lead the crowd in a sing-along before the formal of the concert.

Bradley J. Holko will serve as master of ceremonies. Frank Tracz, a professor of music and director of bands at Kansas State University, will conduct.

In addition to the songs listed above, the band will be the focal point for several numbers, including Claude T. Smith’s “Fanfare: Rhapsody on Christmas Carols,” Matt Conaway’s “Sparkling Lights” and David Lovrien’s “Minor Alterations,” a medley of holiday songs all composed in a minor key.

“The music is all good,” Groth said. “Great arrangements of a lot of different pieces.”