SANTA THE BARBARIAN: SNOWPOCALYPSE and More Holiday Picks for Orchestra Tuesday, September 23, 2025
recommended by Austin Swack, Instrumental Education Specialist
Santa the Barbarian: Snowpocalypse by Randall Standridge, Grade 3
Brace yourselves for the third installment of the Santa the Barbarian Saga. This chapter finds our anti-hero battling the coming of spring to create his kingdom of eternal winter! Combining themes from Vivaldi’s “Spring” and “Winter,” as well as “Dies Irae,” “Deck the Halls,” “Jingle Bells,” “Up on the Housetop,” “Oh Christmas Tree,” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” this dramatic work for string orchestra, percussion and narrator is sure to be a highlight of your winter concert! Ho, Ho, HOOOOOOOO!
A Joyful Celebration by Brian Balmages, Grade 1
Written as a joyous overture to a winter holiday program, “A Joyful Celebration” combines original material with excerpts of holiday favorites. While there are references to several carols, the music does not feel like a medley; rather, Brian Balmages hints at the carols throughout the overture while giving the work its own distinctive character. Carols include “Good King Wenceslas,” “Angels We Have Heard on High,” and “O Come, All Ye Faithful.”
Merry Wayfaring Stranger arr. Tyler Arcari, Grade 1.5
Tyler Arcari has a knack for smashing unrelated tunes together, especially for Christmas! This clever new addition to Tyler’s chaotic caroling is no exception. Musicians will love the drama in this work, as they mix “Poor Wayfaring Stranger” with the likes of “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” and “Patapan.” This will be the star of your next holiday program!
Ghoultide Bells arr. Steve Parsons, Grade 2.5
What if your yuletide celebrations were a Tim Burton movie, complete with a quirky, creepy soundtrack? This clever reimagining of the classic “Jingle Bells” tune takes a ghoulish turn into the curious and eccentric with plenty of unexpected chromatic twists. It’s a weird and wonderful winter concert feature, fun for fall concerts as well!
Hanukkah! arr. Steve L. Rosenhaus, Grade 2
The three well-known songs that make up this suite, “Hanukkah, O Hanukkah,” “Ma’oz Tzur,” and “Dreidel,” may be performed as individual stand-alone pieces or presented as a suite, which makes it a flexible addition to holiday programming.
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About the Author:
Austin Swack joined the Stanton’s team after a decade of teaching band in Texas public schools, where his ensembles were consistently recognized for superior performance. He is equally at home with beginner and advanced students and has extensive experience programming for ensembles at all ability levels. Additionally, he is a versatile arranger as well as an experienced clinician and adjudicator. In his free time, Austin enjoys running, cycling, and cheering on the Blue Jackets!