SBWS lead flutist Sandy Mader who died in a car accident on Oct. 4, 2025 (Photo by Eddie Lopez)
Dawn A. Walker
The magic of animation and the holidays collide in this tongue-in-cheek holiday celebration! SaddleBrooke Winds and Strings (SBWS) will be playing holiday favorite music from various animated films about the magic of the holidays. Expect tunes from The Polar Express, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, The Year Without a Santa Claus, and Eight Crazy Nights, as well as other holiday favorites. In addition, musical selections from animated films and cartoons old and new, as well as the unexpected addition of video game themes, will make their way into the mix. This concert will add to the holiday magic by inviting singers onto the stage. It is truly a show that has it all!
SaddleBrooke Winds and Strings started as a “garage band” in 2013 and has evolved into a community group consisting of amateur and professional musicians from SaddleBrooke and surrounding areas. SBWS’s music director Jesus Jacquez is an active musician in several Tucson ensembles and an experienced band and orchestra teacher.
If you are an active player or someone who used to play an instrument, SBWS is looking for you! Clarinet, trumpet, horn, trombone, and timpani players are especially needed. SBWS is a no-audition ensemble that meets Friday mornings from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for rehearsal. For more information, go to our website at SaddlebrookeWindsAndStrings.org or email us at info@saddlebrookewindsandstrings.org.
The holiday concert will be on Saturday, Dec. 20, at 6 p.m. at the DesertView Performing Arts Center.
Tickets are available at DVPAC.net ($13.50 + $1.50 handling fee) and at the SaddleBrooke TWO office.