BUTLER TWP — A near capacity audience reveled Saturday night at the Holiday Traditions concert of the Butler County Symphony Orchestra at the Butler Intermediate High School auditorium.

Guest conductor Moon Doh expertly led the orchestra in a program of seasonal favorites, with consummate skill, intellect, and humor.

The evening opened with a less familiar work titled “Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24).” In the beginning it was rousing then settled into a lovely blending of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and the “Carol of the Bells.”

Next on the bill was the Prelude from the opera “Hansel and Gretel.“ The French horns began a gentle theme that mutated into an innocent melody which, in turn, swelled to a powerful prancing rhythm. Although the work is well known, Doh and the orchestra made it sound fresh.

Butler native Sarah Bishop graced the stage to wistfully sing “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas“ followed by O Holy Night lending both songs a new emotional intensity.

Selections from Arcangelo Corelli’s “Concerto Grosso Op. 6 No. 8” followed. The four short excerpts commenced with a bright quick tempo, went into an even quicker second movement, resolved into a much calmer segment and resolved at strong finale.

Leroy Anderson’s “Bugler’s Holiday“ was excellent fun. The three trumpeters opened with a rippling sequence that was echoed throughout the orchestra sections and whimsically included the traditional call to the post played at many horse races. The precision and tone of the trumpet section was impressive.

The Holly and the Ivy by Malcom Arnold included other carols such as the “First Noel“ in waltz time, ”Away in a Manger,“ and ”I Saw Three Ships.“ The work was at once familiar and innovative. Doh and the orchestra handled it with skill.

Steven Holcombe’s “Festive Songs of Hanukah” was a delightful homage to one of the best celebrations at this time of year. It evoked many distinctive styles of music in the Hebrew tradition — from haunting anticipation to happy dancing with a touch of klezmer and even included the “Dreidel Song.”

Santa made the scene with a song of his own. Following a drum intro à la Gene Krupa, operatic bass-baritone Kevin Glavin sang his way into everyone’s hearts with a jazzy rendition of “Santa Clause is Coming to Town” – twice. Difficulties with a non-functional microphone made Glavin treat the audience to an instant reprise -- the second time through with a functional mike. His resonant voice and wonderful jokes enhanced rather than detracted from the show. Glavin was joined on stage by Bishop to sing a lilting version of “I’ll be Home for Christmas.”

As the song goes, “Don we now our gay apparel” (with the addition of a Santa hat or two) it was time for the ever-popular audience sing-along .promptly followed by Leroy Anderson’s ever-popular “Sleigh Ride,” putting a whip crack to the end of the Holiday Traditions concert.