The Bismarck-Mandan Symphony Orchestra's holiday concert this year is built around Elvis Presley. "An Elvis Christmas" plays Friday and Saturday, Nov. 20 and 21, at 7:30 p.m. at the Belle Mehus Auditorium in downtown Bismarck, according to the orchestra's event page.
The orchestra says Elvis impersonator Anthony Shore and his band will join the symphony "to ring in the holidays with the King of Rock and Roll, plus all the beloved holiday favorites."
What's on the program
The posted program mixes Presley hits with seasonal standards. The first half opens with Leroy Anderson's "Christmas Festival" and moves into "2001/See See Rider," credited to Elvis Presley and Richard Strauss. Also listed are "Burning Love," "If I Get Home on Christmas Day," "Winter Wonderland," "White Christmas," "My Boy," "Holly Leaves and Christmas Trees" and "O Come, All Ye Faithful."
After intermission come "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," "My Way," "I'll Be Home for Christmas," "Blue Christmas," Robert W. Smith's "An African Holy Night," "American Trilogy" and "Can't Help Falling in Love." The night closes with Anderson's "Sleigh Ride." The orchestra credits all of the evening's Elvis arrangements to Kenneth Vork.
The concert is part of the orchestra's 2026–27 season, which it calls "Echoes of Humanity." The season page says it includes a holiday concert and a cinema concert, along with music by Bach, John Williams and Aaron Copland, a North Dakota premiere and the winners of the orchestra's Young Artist Competition.
Tickets and accessibility
Tickets are sold online through the symphony's site, by phone at 1-800-514-3849 and at the Bismarck Event Center box office, 315 S. Fifth St., which the orchestra says is currently open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays because of reduced staffing.
The orchestra says the Belle Mehus has elevators, ramps and wheelchair seating for patrons and their companions. Large-print programs can be arranged. It asks patrons to request accommodations when they buy tickets.
Coming up
The orchestra's home page lists a free BMSO Youth Orchestra concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20, at the Belle Mehus.
The main series continues after the holidays. "Heroes and Legends" is set for Jan. 15 and 16, 2027, at 7:30 p.m. at the Belle Mehus. Violinist Mitchell Newman will play film music including selections from Schindler's List, Fiddler on the Roof and Cinema Paradiso, according to the orchestra.
Sources: https://www.bismarckmandansymphony.org/events/AnElvisChristmas/ ; https://www.bismarckmandansymphony.org/events/ ; https://www.bismarckmandansymphony.org/tickets/ ; https://www.bismarckmandansymphony.org/ ; https://www.bismarckmandansymphony.org/events/HeroesandLegends/