Portland Symphony Orchestra's Festival of Trees Lights up the Holiday Season

PORTLAND, Maine ’Äì The Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) is delighted to announce a new Portland holiday tradition, the Festival of Trees. A display of beautifully decorated Christmas trees will fill the lobby of Merrill Auditorium during this holiday season, December 7 through 21. The lobby of Merrill will be transformed into an enchanting winter wonderland by local companies who have donated the trees and their creative talents to provide a captivating, festive atmosphere. Each tree will have its own unique style, all charming and inspirational.

"We're thrilled to commence a new tradition this year on the 30th anniversary of Magic, and the first year Maestro Moody is conducting the performances," said Susan Dench, PSO Festival of Trees volunteer coordinator. "In conjunction with Magic of Christmas, Festival of Trees is sure to become an annual event anticipated by PSO sponsors, audience members and the larger community who can come and visit the Merrill lobby to get in the holiday spirit."

The PSO presents the 30th year of Magic of Christmas with eleven performances December 11-20, led for the first time by Music Director Robert Moody. Visit www.portlandsymphony.com for performance and ticketing information.

2009 Festival of Trees' founding sponsors are: Acadia Insurance, Cardiovascular Consultants of Maine P.A., Compositions, Cumberland Club, Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ, Haven's Candies, IDEXX Laboratories, Maine Lobster Direct, OceanView at Falmouth Retirement Community, Planet Dog, and Portland Pirates.

Members of the Festival of Trees' team are: Cindy Wilson (chair), Harper Lee Collins, Susan Dench, Nancy Greenblatt, Andrea Gross, Mary Jo Kolkhorst , Melissa LaCasse, and Paula Spencer. Joe Boucher, Gregg Carville, Andy Downs, Allison Earnhard, Jessica Ferris, Alice Kornhauser, Christopher LaCasse, and Pandora LaCasse also helped with the creation of this new holiday tradition.

About the Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO):

Serving the city of Portland, the state of Maine, and northern New England, the PSO is the largest performing arts organization in Maine. With critically acclaimed performances and broad community engagement, the PSO is widely regarded as one of the top symphony orchestras of its size in the country. For complete season information, including artist biographies; program notes; and Online Insights, provided with support from season Enrichment Sponsor Fairpoint