No snow was in sight Saturday night outside Chenery Auditorium. But inside, the Christmas spirit reigned in bountiful measure.

The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra and the Kalamazoo Singers Holiday Chorus combined to create "Home for the Holidays," an immensely enjoyable concert to launch the Christmas holidays.

Nor did the festivities stop with just these two large musical organizations. For the many-faceted program, several other muslical ensembles and soloists participated. Soprano Diane Penning, boy soprano

Brandon Shouldice, narrator Jamie Boll of WWMT (Channel 3), Western Michiagan University dancers Kristen Legg and Neleke Stravers, and the 40 singers of the Gagie School Children's Chorus all helped regale the packed house, which included many families with children.

New KSO Music Director Raymond Harvey acted as ringmaster, introducing each act with remarks that generated a relaxed setting for the entire concert. In the meantime, in its own selections, the KSO exhibited fine ensemble playing. Maestro Harvey's baton provided crisp tempos that kept the program moving.

The orchestra's precision and attention to dynamics was very evident in the lead-off work, Leroy Anderson's "Christmas Festival Overture." Victor Herbert's "March of the Toys," Richman's "Hanukkah Festival Overture" and Anderson's beloved "Sleigh Ride" similarly reflected clean entrances and attention to details.

But particular interest - and pleasure - arose in the joint performances of the orchestra with other soloists or groups. Kalamazoo Singers Music Director Thomas Kasdorf took to the podium for several excellent choral numbers by his charges. "Singing a cappella, the chorus rendered "Good Christian Men, Rejoice" and especially "How Far is it to Bethlehem?" in excellent fashion, with secure intonations, warm sonorities and intelligent interpretations. Kasdorf's immaculate preparation with his singers was evident at every turn, as with the stunning pianissimos in "How Far."

Once miking was added, Penning's pleasing voice was hear to good effect. With a secure high tessitura and pleasing overall vocal timbre, she admirably brought to life Adolph Adam's "O Holy Night." She joined the chorus for a version of the spiritual "Mary Had a Baby." Thirteen-year-old Brandon Shouldice joined with Penning, the chorus and the KSO for an adequate if not outstanding "Pie Jesu" from Lloyd Webber's "Requiem."

In the non-carol "department," Ralph Vaughan Williams' "Song of Thanksgiving" provided the most thoughtful music of the evening. It brought together the orchestra, the chorus, Penning, narrator Boll and director Kellee Zegree's Gagie children's choir. Conductor Harvey had his hands full, literally and metaphorically, cueing in each of the participating groups. The children's choir here admirably negotiated the tricky melodic lines and some syncopation.

A close second in the ambitious category was "The Shepherd's Chorus and Dance" from Gian Carlo Menotti's famed mini-opera "Amahl and the Night Visitors."  In addition to very strong work from the KSO and the chorus on this piece, young dancers Legg and Stravers smoothly re-created choreographer David Curwen's graceful designs, which sometimes took them into the aisles.     

A holiday concert is not complete without Christmas songs and the anticipated sing-along portion. As Maestro Harvey stated to the eager audience, if they could not sing well, they were to just sing louder.

"Home for the Holidays" perfectly describes the non-challenging, homey texture of Saturday's concert. Now, when the snow finally arrives, Kalamazoo will be ready for the rest of the holiday season.