STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

Sun Valley Opera and Broadway threw its first festive holiday concert at The Argyros last year. And it’s fast become a special holiday tradition in the Wood River Valley, much as Sun Valley Resort’s Christmas Eve Ice Show.

This year’s featured the brother-sister act of John and Leslie Mauldin accompanied by Melodie Taylor-Mauldin in a high energy act that included “Jingle Bell Rock,” a “White Christmas Doo-Wop,” a “Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth” number and, of course, “It Happened in Sun Valley.”

The party began an hour before the main event with the Caritas Chorale sharing holiday favorites. Colla Voce, a Wood River High School girl’s group under the direction of John Mauldin, chimed in, as well, spreading good cheer in three-part harmony.

Leslie Mauldin gets things started with “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” as pianist Sean Rogers looks on.

Sun Valley Opera Executive Director Robyn Watson baked plenty of snowball cookies for the event, while her  sister Leslie Doheny-Hanks handed out homemade caramel corn alongside savory nibbles provided by The Village Market.

NEXT UP:

Sun Valley Opera and Broadway will offer “Songs of Love”—a Sweetheart’s Tea & Concert—from 3 to 5 p.m. Valentine’s Day at The American Legion Hall in Ketchum.

The concert will feature Teresa Castillo and Jordan Pitts accompanied by pianist Sean Rogers as they sing “Tonight” from “West Side Story,” Edith Piaf’s “La Vie en rose” songs from “La Traviata,” “Carmen” and “Madama Butterly” and more.

Andrew and Kristal Schiers and Alec Frota donned their holiday look to perform with the Caritas Chorale under the direction of R.L. Rowsey and Joel Bejot.

Both Castillo and Pitts have appeared with Sun Valley Opera and Broadway before. Pitts last appeared at a Bastille Day concert in tandem with Natalia Santaliz. And Castillo, a Costa Rican-American songbird, appeared with Pitts in March 2022, hitting all their notes that night with a French flair.

For tickets go to https://www.sunvalleyopera.com  or call 818-577-7811.

Robyn Watson and Leslie Doheny-Hanks were among those taking part in the Christmas sweater contest; in the end a tiny tot won.

The Caritas Chorale performed spirited carols under the direction of R.L. Rowsey and Joel Bejot.