BUTLER TWP — The Grinch may have tried to steal Christmas but Michael Marra, a Snowman and the combined Butler and Seneca Valley High School chorus stole the show Saturday night at the Holiday Traditions concert of the Butler County Symphony Orchestra held at the Butler Intermediate High School auditorium.

Once again Maestro Matthew Kraemer treated a full house with a program of familiar holiday music seasoned with a zest of the unexpected.

From the opening notes of Leroy Anderson’s “A Christmas Festival,” a medley of “Joy to the World,” “Deck the Halls,” “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” “Good King Wenceslas,” “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” “Silent Night,” “Jingle Bells” and “O Come All Ye Faithful” brought smiles and memories to mind.

Next up was a nod to a modern classic, as the 62-voice choir sang “Believe,” Alan Silvestri’s iconic song from “Polar Express.” The young singers were beautifully prepared. They performed with excellent diction and tone but were not miked making it occasionally difficult to hear words over the orchestra. The sweet melody carried nevertheless and the choristers did their directors, Bryan Helsel and Aaron Magill, proud.

Kraemer’s love for — and gift for — accompanying movies delighted everyone as the orchestra played the entire score of the short animated film, “The Snowman,” which was displayed on screens on either side of the orchestra. The music written by Howard Lake was superbly presented and synced to the images.

Again the combined chorus was called to give voice to the enchanting tune “Walking in the Air.” The audience was mesmerized and reacted to the various elements of the tale with oohs and aahs. The orchestra moved effortlessly from lovely, pensive melodies to the rollicking snowmen’s dance. It was easy to become so fascinated by the blending of visual and audible that one could almost forget that it was a live performance.

An unusual arrangement of by Peter Wilhousky of Mykola Leontovich’s well-loved “Carol of the Bells” opened the second half of the concert. The tintinnabulation of the bells played by the percussion section and echoed by the strings set the pace as scraps of well-known carols such as “What Child is This,” “Silent Night” and “Joy to the World” drifted over the swirling, festive theme.

“Christmas Favorites” by Bruce Chase swung into some of the sentimental, secular sounds of the season, blending “White Christmas,” “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas,” “Silver Bells” and “The Christmas Song” into a charming concoction. The orchestra cruised through the challenges of tempo changes and stylistic contrasts with aplomb.

Jeff Tyzik’s “Chanukah Suite” began with a brass proclamation in “Rock of Ages,” segued through the happy “My Dredl,” into the introspective “Al Hanissim,” a perky nod to klezmer in “Who Can Retell” and concluded with the solemn, majestic “Hanukkah.” In an evening full of medleys, this was outstanding. Richard Diefenderfer’s clarinet solo in the klezmer style was a highlight.

The chorus returned to the stage to sing John William’s “Somewhere in My Memory” from the film “Home Alone.” The wistful melody was a reminder of the sensory delights of the holidays — evoking candle glow, the scent of gingerbread and the warm embrace of family.

The 60th anniversary of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” brought out the child in young and old as Butler’s own Michael Marra dazzled the audience in a one-man performance of Dr. Seuss’ perennial favorite. Marra not only read the tale but vocally acted the characters and sang the signature “You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch.”

His excellent interpretation of the Grinch’s slimy antics evoked laughter and wide-eyed anticipation as if first hearing the story. The chorus supplied the voices of Whoville accompanied by the orchestra as they sang verses of “Welcome Christmas.” Whoville and Christmas prevailed in the inevitable conclusion. Hearts were warmed as the Grinch’s own heart swelled to twice its size, filled with the love of Christmas, thanks to Marra and the orchestra.

The annual singalong officially closed the evening’s festivities but Kraemer and the orchestra surprised the audience with an encore, returning to Leroy Anderson for a favorite, “Sleigh Ride.” The final neigh in the trumpets and the snap of the whip-crack sent the audience into the night full of holiday spirit.