Orchestra Iowa’s Holiday Spectacular returns to the Paramount Dec. 20 and 21

It wasn't easy for Tim Hankewich to leave Cedar Rapids. It also won't be easy for the music director of Orchestra Iowa to return.

Maestro Tim, as he's been known during his 20 years with the orchestra, was delayed by the considerable snowfall during the first weekend of the month. Hankewich was on his way to conduct the Jacksonville Symphony in balmy Northern Florida.

"I was supposed to leave the night of the big storm but my flight was canceled," Hankewich said while calling from Jacksonville.

Hankewich arrived a day late but his luggage was lost.

"I didn't have my baton, underwear or music," Hankewich said.

The latter was a problem, but everything turned up before showtime.

"But it's all working out,“ he said. ”They have a beautiful hall down here in Jacksonville.“

When Hankewich flies home, the temperature differential will be about 70 degrees.

"It's going to be quite a transition heading back due to the weather, and I'll be traveling during the busiest time of the year," Hankewich said.

However, Hankewich is excited about coming back for Orchestra Iowa's Holiday Spectacular, slated for Saturday, Dec. 20 and Sunday, Dec. 21 at the Paramount Theatre. The traditional event will be filled with joyful music featuring the full symphony, chorus and youth chorus, who will present a plethora of holiday classics.

"I've been doing this every year since I've been here for at least 20 years, and it's a special event," Hankewich said. "What we do certainly sets the tone for the holiday season. We know it makes people feel good. It's important to them. They put this on their calendars. It's a fun and meaningful event for the orchestra and the community."

Hankewich is excited about working with dynamic vocalist Lynne Rothrock and the Iowa Women's Jazz Orchestra.

"It's going to be great," Hankewich said. "The Iowa Women's Jazz Orchestra performed with us two years ago, and they were lights out fantastic. The audience couldn't stop raving about what they brought to the table. Lynne is such a great performer. She has such a following since she sings regularly at the Opus (Concert) Cafe. Lynne is just tremendous. Lynne will sing ‘There is a Star,’ and it's just stunning, very personal."

Some other highlights are "Cool Yule," which is from the Louis Armstrong canon and "Let It Snow." The latter is a jazzy version made famous by Nancy Wilson.

"I'm looking forward to presenting ‘Joy to the World,’ which incorporates ‘Ode to Joy’ and a little bit of Three Dog Night's 'Joy to the World,’" Hankewich said.

Three Dog Night hit the top of the Billboard charts in 1971 with "Joy to the World."

"Our ‘Joy to the World; is all about joy," Hankewich said. "That's what it should be about at this time of season."

Many came of age watching the animated Christmas television specials, such as "A Charlie Brown Christmas." Hankewich and the children's youth chorus will tip its cap to such impactful shows.

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"There are so many classic cartoon holiday shows, and they will be presented by the children's chorus," Hankewich said. "You can't have a Christmas program without a children's chorus, and we have a great children's chorus. They'll be singing melodies from a lot of the classic cartoons from the holiday season."

Expect rousing versions of "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer," "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" and "Christmas Time is Here."

"Those songs will touch a nerve with the audience," Hankewich said. "It will connect the audience to their own childhood. Who doesn't remember watching those shows as a child?"

It's not easy putting the Holiday Spectacular together since there is so much ground to cover.

"Every year I'm reminded how difficult it is to put a holiday show together," Hankewich said. "How do you balance the sacred with the secular? How do you go from the formal to the informal? How do you make this work in a seamless manner?"

Preparation is the answer from Orchestra Iowa. Hankewich and his team start having meetings almost a year-and-a-half in advance of the events.

"It's a lot of work, but it's worth it," Hankewich said. "This is something so many people look forward to, and we work hard to present the best possible show for the audience."

Hankewich would be remiss if he didn't acknowledge the impact Dr. Steve Shanley, who is the coordinator of music education at Coe College, has had on the event over the years.

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"I owe a heartfelt thank you and a huge debt of gratitude to Steve Shanley," Hankewich said. "He and I are often furiously arranging for holiday programming well in advance of the events."

It can't be easy for Hankewich as he prepares to board a flight home from the Sunshine State, but as he often does, the laid-back conductor has a positive spin on returning to the frozen tundra of Iowa.

"The great thing about coming back home is that Cedar Rapids will be looking a lot like Christmas," Hankewich said. "I very much look forward to returning.“