This past Saturday, I had the opportunity to go see the Trans-Siberian Orchestra perform live at the Wells Fargo center in Philadelphia. I had gone the year prior and was blown away by the performance; so naturally, I had high expectations for this year. You may recognize the name from the concert Washington Township high school performed earlier this month, titled “Wizards of Winter”. Through the hard work of the orchestra students, band students, guitar students, and chorus students – as well as tech crew behind the scenes – the concert was a hit and really brought the community together in the holiday spirit. I was a part of the show, in women’s chorus. The concert at the high school only increased my excitement for the bigger show I was in for.

Every year, the TSO stick with a theme that they change each year to add some variation to the show. This year, it was “Ghosts in the Attic”, a brilliant mix of classics like Christmas Cannon, Electric Blue, and Christmas Eve/Sarajevo; as well as some lesser-known pieces like Music Box Blues, Appalachian Snowfall, and Christmas in the Air. The vibe of the whole show is very holiday-spirited, but with a rock show genre. It includes an amazing light show, fantastic dancing, epic instrumentals, stunning singing, and breathtaking effects. The stage in some songs spits fire with the rhythm; the performers interact with the audience and frequently walk through the aisles while playing; the screens onstage act as scenic, mood-setting devices tailored to each song; and harmonizing vocalists send chills down your spine with their outstanding singing.

My personal favorite performer is Roddy Chong, the electric violinist who is constantly running back and forth onstage. He fills you with so much energy just watching him play, and he always has a huge smile on his face. You can just tell he loves what he does, and he does it well. Overall, my experience viewing the TSO both years has been nothing but a surreal moment for me. If you haven’t seen them already, I would highly recommend considering going next year. I wish that I could make all their tour dates, I love them so much. And it doesn’t hurt that both years in a row, I got a retweet from the one and only Roddy Chong himself from congratulating him on the great performance. I’ll just have to wait until next year to see them, but I have them to thank for getting me in the holiday spirit, and making me realize holiday traditions really do make all the difference.