A Salt Lake caroling group known as Crystal Reflection has been scheduled as the special guest artists for the Salt Lake Philharmonic's annual "Holiday Pops Concert" on Friday, Nov. 26, at 8 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the Salt Lake Marriott Hotel.
Katie Dastrup, founder of the group, says, "The fact that we have a repertoire of nearly 100 Christmas carols, do our own arrangements, and sing in 17 foreign languages - including Russian and Tongan - and harmonize everything from the Chipmunks to Handel's `Messiah' while doing hand-signing for the deaf, can probably account for our long-standing acclaim."Crystal Reflection has sung together for more than 18 years. One of the highlights during that time was making an appearance before the congressional staff and their families in the White House during President Ronald Reagan's administration.
Members of the quartet are Ryan and Katie Dastrup, Meredith Snedeger and Marcia Crofts.
The group will perform several medleys during the concert next week, including such carols as "Joy to the World," "O Come All Ye Faithful," "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" and "Winter Wonderland."
The audience will be invited to sing along for some of the numbers.
The philharmonic, under the direction of Eugene Jelesnik, and featured artists - soprano Billie Loukas, tenor Don Becker and pianist Bob Davis - will perform a variety of light classical and "pop" instrumental and vocal works.
The concert is free of charge and no tickets are required. Cosponsors include KSL Radio-TV, First Interstate Bank of Utah and the Music Performance Trust Funds, with the ballroom being donated by the Marriott Hotel.