Nassau Pops Brings Christmas Cheer to Mineola

The Nassau Pops Symphony Orchestra brought some Yuletide cheer to Mineola Sunday afternoon, performing their annual Christmas concert in the auditorium  of .

For many fans of the Nassau Pops, it was simply not Christmas until Maestro Louis Panacciulli and the orchestra perform the "Sounds of the Season" concert.

Panacciulli spoke about this time of year when the true meaning of Christmas tends to get lost as the focus of the holiday shifts to commercialism. By performing the songs that are etched into holiday memories, Panacciulli told the audience to try to discover the true meaning of Christmas in the music.

After such selections as "Christmas Festival" and the "Christmas Waltz," Panacciulli introduced the Mineola Choral Society, led by director Thomas Jones, which sang a number of compositions, including"Evergreen Christmas."

Jack and Ann Cassin also sang such Christmas classics as "White Christmas," "Winter Wonderland" and "The Christmas Song."

The Mineola Choral Society and the Nassau Pops worked their holiday magic together during a section of the concert entitled "The Reason for the Season," performing such selections as "O Holy Night" - a favorite of Mineola Deputy Mayor Larry Werther - and "Do You Hear What I Hear?"

The final part of the concert involved a sing-a-long with the Cassins, the Mineola Choral Society and the audience, which participated in the singing of Christmas favorites such as "Joy to the World," "O Come All Ye Faithful," "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" and "Silent Night." The concert closed with "Let Their Be Peace On Earth."

Panacciulli thanked the  as well as Chaminade for hosting the concert, the musicians of the Nassau Pops Symphony Orchestra, the singers of the Mineola Choral Society as well as those who have made donations to enable the Pops to continue to perform.

For those who left the Chaminade auditorium, it was officially Christmas in Mineola.