The Williamsport City Jazz Orchestra is presenting its popular annual Holiday Jazz concert on Friday, Dec. 15, at 7:30 p.m. at its new home in the Trachte Music Center at Lycoming College and at the Deane Center for the Performing Arts at 104 Main St. in Wellsboro on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 7:30 p.m.

The Holiday Jazz concert opens with the Williamsport City Jazz Orchestra playing “Good Swing Wenceslas” followed by vocalist Suezie Cioffi singing holiday favorites, such as “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” “Let It Snow,” “Everybody’s Waitin’ For the Man With the Bag,” “Santa Baby,” “Jingle Bells” and “White Christmas.”

The orchestra will perform “Coventry Swing” and “Lo! How a Rose E’er Blooming” and then give a premiere performance of Shorty Roger’s “Swingin’ Nutcracker” and music from Duke Ellington’s “Nutcracker Suite.”

The Williamsport area is rich with jazz musicians, artists, teachers and performers. As a vehicle to showcase that talent, the Williamsport City Jazz Orchestra was founded in 2011. Members include alumni of the Glenn Miller Big Band, the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, the Buddy Rich Band and many other famous jazz bands.

The 18 members of the Williamsport City Jazz Orchestra are: Rhythm section – Tim Breon (guitar), Matt Radspinner (bass), Steve Adams (piano), Bobby Leidhecker (drums); Trumpet section – Eddie Severn, Dale Orris, Jeff Smith and Doug LeBlanc; Saxophone section – Larry Fisher, Adam Wright, Dick Adams, Diana Bailey and Laura Garside; Trombone section – Kevin Henry, Jay Vonada, Mike Damiani and Tim Bortner; and Vocals – Suezie Cioffi.

The orchestra plays an exciting variety of big band tunes, from the popular and familiar to obscure and new. Both performances on Dec. 15 and 16 are sure to appeal to all.

The orchestra also celebrates Jazz Appreciation Month in April with the “Williamsport City Jazz Festival” on March 1 and 2, featuring Collegiate Jazz Bands from Penn State University, Susquehanna University and Commonwealth University. Bass player Josh Davis, director of Jazz Studies at Penn State, will be the featured conductor/performer along with high school Jazz bands and clinics by some WCJO Jazz members.

Tickets for the Trachte Music Center concert on Dec. 15 are $20 and available at the door. Students with ID are admitted free.

The Deane Center concert on Dec. 16 is BYOB with audience members encouraged to reserve a table, bring their own favorite beverages and snacks and sit with family and friends to enjoy the music. There will be room for dancing. Admission is $25. For tickets and to reserve a table, visit www.deanecenter.com or call 570-724-6220.

For more information about the orchestra, visit the Williamsport City Jazz Orchestra Facebook page or email wmsptcityjazz@gmail.com.