Northrop Presents
Sounds of the Season: Relaxed Matinee With Organist Greg Zelek
2025–26 Northrop Season
Sat, Dec 20, 3:00 pm CT
In-person / Livestream
On-demand through Dec 31
Pay What You Wish
Free for UMN students; registration required.
Gather your family and friends to experience the magic of the season! Northrop Organist Greg Zelek will fill the air with joy, performing beloved holiday classics, including selections from A Charlie Brown Christmas that pair the spectacular Northrop pipe organ with a spirited drum set provided by accomplished percussionist Steve Kimball. Timeless favorites such as Purvis's Carol Rhapsody, Joy to the World, Sleigh Ride, and Go, Tell It on the Mountain will showcase the organ’s versatility and power. To add to the merriment, a talented chorister from the Minnesota Boychoir will sing Walking in the Air from the cherished animated film The Snowman. This concert will fill your hearts with holiday cheer!
Relaxed Matinee: During a Relaxed Matinee, house lights will remain at a glow, sound levels will be lowered, and the audience will be warned of any surprises. Attendees can come and go as needed, assisted by ushers trained to accommodate movement and sound. Relaxed Matinee tickets are Pay What You Wish.
Pre- & Post-Show Fun!
Arty Dance Party: Starting at 2:00 pm, join us in the Northrop lobby for a winter wonderland of crafting and coloring for all ages. Take your creation with you into the theater and be sure to bring your dancing shoes, because after the show everyone is invited to bring their works of art onstage for a 15-minute dance party!
Just Added: Public Organ Tour immediately following the Sounds of the Season concert. Learn more and reserve your spot.
Top image: Northrop Organist Greg Zelek. Photo © Greg Helgeson.
To Help You Decide
You might enjoy this performance if you love(d):
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Our flexible Create Your Own package lets you choose your experiences from any three or more in-person events from the 2025–26 Northrop Season! Subscribers enjoy:
- Savings of 15%—when you buy three+ 2025–26 Northrop Season events
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- Our appreciation for supporting Northrop programming and Centennial Commissions! Your purchase helps make a difference.
Explore Single Ticket Discounts *
- First Year Free Ticket for new UMN students and staff/faculty
- Children 17 and under: 50% off base price, always
- 20% off tickets for groups of 10 or more
*Some exclusions apply.
Articles & More
“Seeing and hearing Zelek in action helps explain why praise follows the organist everywhere.”—Isthmus
“Zelek, however, is the glue that holds everything together and is also the reason why the concerts can be labeled entertainment. Because they’re not just music; they are joyful productions. Zelek is a performer, not just a musician.”—Channel 3000
“Zelek was physically animated throughout the performance. His hands flew across three levels of keyboards while his feet worked the pedalboard like somebody playing Dance Dance Revolution in an arcade.”—Wisconsin State Journal
Related Event(s)
Know Before You Go
Event Information
- Seating: General Admission, Ticket Required
- Performance Begins: 3:00 pm Relaxed Matinee
- Tickets: Check the email you provided when you placed your order to locate your digital ticket. Be sure to check your spam or junk mail folders if you do not see them.
- Detailed Event Information: Check back for more information closer to the date.
If you need assistance, please call 612-624-2345, email umntix@umn.edu.
Learn More - Explore These Themes
The content below derives from the Northrop Across Campus Program that supports Northrop's mission towards intersections between performing arts and education for the benefit of all participants now and for generations to come.
Find ways to make thematic connections to these suggested topics:
- Music: Organ, Percussion, Choral, Intergenerational Collaborations
- Music Theory
- Music History
Dive deeper with these resources that provide additional information about the performers, the history of the artform, and the artistic process.
Links:
"The Charlie Brown Christmas Special Was the Flop That Wasn't"—Smithsonian Magazine
Video: "Leroy Anderson Explains How He Wrote Sleigh Ride"
The Story Behind: Joy to the World
The Story Behind: Go, Tell It On the Mountain
"Walking in the Air Was Written When Composer Was on Brink of 'Collapse'"—The Independent
Start a conversation about the performance or encourage reflection, using these questions as inspiration.
Northrop Organist Greg Zelek will welcome in the holiday spirit with a concert featuring celebratory favorites, including selections from A Charlie Brown Christmas performed on organ and drumset. The program will also include organ arrangements of well-known holiday tunes such as Purvis's Carol Rhapsody; Joy to the World; Sleigh Ride; and Go, Tell It on the Mountain.
- What might be the challenges and advantages of pairing secular holiday music alongside traditional, religious music?
- How does live music connect us to cultural traditions? How might new arrangements of well-known holiday music support or challenge audience expectations?
The program will feature a chorister from the Minnesota Boychoir singing Walking in the Air from the movie The Snowman, and conclude with a dance party onstage, inviting young audience members to join in the fun.
- How might the presence of intergenerational audiences on stage and in the audience affect the artistic experience of this performance?
- Imagine you are asked to suggest program selections for the organ to perform at a Northrop performance next December. What songs would you like to hear?
During a Relaxed Matinee, house lights will remain dim, sound levels will be lowered, and the audience will be warned of any potential surprises. Attendees can come and go as needed, assisted by ushers trained to accommodate movement and sound. Relaxed Matinee tickets are “Pay What You Wish.”
- Describe the cultural norms of audience behavior during a performance, and explore how the Relaxed Matinee model subverts these norms. How can these subversions lead to more equitable and inclusive audience participation?
- Imagine you are organizing a show that features a Relaxed Matinee. How would you communicate with artists and audiences about the differences from performance norms to ensure an enjoyable experience for all?
Acknowledgments
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
