POTSDAM -- The Orchestra of Northern New York, the North Country's professional symphony orchestra, will bring live music to Potsdam, Massena and Watertown when it presents Winter Wonderland, its annual holiday pops concert.

Performances are 7:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 15 at Hosmer Hall, SUNY Potsdam; 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 16 at Massena Central High School Auditorium; and 3 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 17 at First Presbyterian Church in Watertown.

The program will open with “Christmas Festival” by Leroy Anderson, followed by such seasonal favorites as “White Christmas,” “Sleigh Ride” and the Spanish and Russian dances from “The Nutcracker.”

Internationally acclaimed tenor Donald George will sing “Panis Angelicus” and “Gesu Bambino.” Mr. George is a Professor of Vocal Music at the Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam, and an Honored Professor at Shenyang Conservatory in China.

He has performed at LaScala, the Paris Opera Bastille, Kennedy Center, the State Operas of Berlin, Hamburg and Viena, the Festivals of Salzburg, Buenos Aires, Jerusalem, Istanbul, Perth and Blossom USA.

He has sung with Leonard Bernstein, Kurt Masur, Vladimir Jurowski, Simone Young and recorded for Sony, Naxos, Phillips Classic, Teldec, Delos, and Bavarian Radio, among others.

Reviews of Donald George speak of his “pleasing tenor sound, vocally reliable in all challenges” (Metropolitan Opera News). His recordings of the songs of Margaret Ruthven Lang (1868-1972) "Love is Everywhere" & Volume II “Love Also Rises” were nominated for Grammys.

The review, by Music Web International, of the recording of “Return to Old Ireland” described his singing as “splendid.” The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reviewed his recording of Schubert’s “Schöne Müllerin,” praising Donald George with “a splendid visiting card of his artistry…. An absolute must.”

Donald George has given master classes in Shenyang and Nanjing, China; Italy, Germany and throughout the USA. Along with Metropolitan Opera soprano Elizabeth Futral, a summer program with The Conservatory of Singapore is in planning.

The second half of the program will feature the Holiday Festival Chorus, comprised of students from various communities. Canton High School music teacher Kimberly Busch is preparing select students from the choirs of Potsdam Central, Canton Central and Madrid-Waddington High Schools to perform with members of the Massena High School Mixed Choir at the Potsdam concert.

The Massena concert will highlight students only from that school's mixed choir, under the direction of Chris Lincoln. Watertown High School choral director Sarah Gleason is working with students in the Watertown Select Choir to perform for the concert on Dec. 17.

All students will sing “Candlelight Carol,” “Glow,” and the “Evening Prayer” from “Hansel and Gretel.” Members of the audience will join ONNY, Mr. George and the Holiday Festival Choruses for “Silent Night” and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” to end the program.

The Massena concert is a benefit for Massena Music Friends, an organization of interested individuals who raise funds to support music programs in Massena schools. The group has purchased numerous instruments, paid for repairs to others, and funded students to attend the summer music camp, Crane Youth Music.

Special ticket prices for the Massena concert are $15 adults, $12 for seniors and students 11 and older. Children ten and younger will be admitted free.

Tickets for the Potsdam and Watertown concerts are $23 adults, $19 seniors and military, $10 college students, and free for students 17 and younger.

For tickets, call 315-267-2277 or visit www.onny.org.