The Lake Charles Symphony is taking Southwest Louisiana on a jolly journey with their upcoming concert “Joyeux Noel” at 6 p.m. on Saturday, December 16 at Tritico Theater.

The holiday performance will feature Louisiana fiddler Amanda Shaw, who recently performed at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Beth Dawdy, executive director of the Lake Charles Symphony, called Shaw a “ball full of Louisiana fun” that blends with the orchestra seamlessly.

“Her energy, her love of Louisiana, her appreciation for music will be on the stage.”

The orchestra will be conducted by William “Bill” Rose, associate professor of music, Department of Performing Arts at McNeese State University. He is a principal trombonist with the Symphony, composer and multi-instrumentalist with a jam-packed resume.

He said he is grateful for his time working with Shaw, calling her an “a consummate performer and entertainer.”

“I’m happy to add her to the list of exceptional performers that I’ve been blessed to work with in my career.”

Five of Shaw’s songs were orchestrated for “Joyeux Noel.” Two of those songs are popular holiday hits. She said that seeing (and hearing) her music through a new lens has been incredibly exciting.

“Classical music is all about dynamics and each section bringing a different part of the melody to life. It’s truly an honor to be able to share the stage with so many incredible musicians.”

Audiences can expect to be “singing along with, tapping their toes, lifting them up to their feet” and feeling “the entire range of emotions inherent in the holiday season,” Rose said. The theme of the 2023-24 orchestra season is “A Musical Journey.” The songs that he selected reflect the journeys, both thematically and physically.

“As I looked at the theme, and related that to the nature of the many Christmas stories, I selected works that either will carry the audience to various places around the globe or invite the listener to participate in the journey themselves.”

Concertgoers will “connect with the difficult journey” of the three wise men in the “Fantasia on ‘We Three Kings,’” travel to England in the “St. Paul Suite” and join Santa in his sleigh during Clement Clark Moore’s “T’was the Night Before Christmas.”

Over the last 38 years, Rose has occasionally conducted the orchestra, whose mission to SWLA is to “bring music, and intense and joyful emotional experiences” to audiences, he said. With “Joyeux Noel” and past Symphony performances, this mission has been accomplished.

“I feel connected with the and bound to the group as an organization and feel both great satisfaction with our successes, artistry and association with the community.”

This is the second performance with Louisiana flair that the Symphony has hosted this season. Dawdy said that this is a practice they plan to continue.

“We would like to set a precedent of featuring a Louisiana artist every year.”

This is part of the Symphony’s mission to create a deeper connection with SWLA through a healthy, musical balance between contemporary and classic music.

“There are innovative ways that we can introduce classical music to the community without it being so old-school, although we still want to keep the formality of the orchestra.”

For Shaw, this is an opportunity to realize her role as an ambassador of Louisiana’s rich history. She finds inspiration in Cajun musicians who came before her while simultaneously using her platforms to support future Louisiana musicians. Her music preserves Cajun heritage and serves as a time capsule for future generations, she said.

In a few weeks, Shaw will be performing her Annual Amanda Shaw Cajun Christmas Special on WGNO; At the end of the month, she will be in Pasadena, California to bring that “Louisiana flavor” to the West Coast in the Rose Bowl Parade.

Prior to the performance, there will be McNeese student art displayed in the gallery and a photo booth backdrop available for guests. After the concert, a meet and greet will be hosted free of charge for guests to meet Shaw and musicians from the orchestra.

Regular tickets for “Joyeux Noel” at $55 per guest. The Symphony is currently running multiple ticket specials. Locals can get two tickets for $80. There is also a family four-pack available for $125, which includes four tickets. This package is also available for seniors.

Those who look forward to attending future shows this season can purchase two tickets for two concerts for a total of $150; Shows included in the deal are “Joyeux Noel,” “Beatles and Bach” on March 16, 2024 and “Pines of Rome” on April 28, 2024.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.lcsymphony.com.