The Trans-Siberian Orchestra
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Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) is an American rock band founded in 1996 by producer, composer, and lyricist Paul O'Neill, who brought together
Jon Oliva John Nicholas "Jon" Oliva (born July 22, 1959) is an American singer and musician. He is best known as the co-founder, keyboardist and lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Savatage, which he co-founded with his younger brother Criss Oliva. Si ...
and
Al Pitrelli Al Pitrelli (born September 26, 1962) is an American guitarist, best known for his work with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Megadeth, Alice Cooper and Savatage. He has performed with various acts as a band member, session musician and touring me ...
(both members of
Savatage Savatage () is an American heavy metal band founded by brothers Jon and Criss Oliva in 1979 in Tarpon Springs, Florida. The band was first called Avatar, but, shortly before the release of their debut album '' Sirens'' (1983), they changed t ...
) and keyboardist and co-producer
Robert Kinkel Robert Kinkel is an American professional session keyboardist and music engineer most known for his role as a co-creator/co-producer/co-composer and touring keyboardist with Trans-Siberian Orchestra along with extensive studio work with the pr ...
to form the core of the creative team. The band gained in popularity when they began touring in 1999 after completing their second album, ''The Christmas Attic'', the year previous. In 2007, ''
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'' referred to them as "an
arena-rock Arena rock (also known as stadium rock, pomp rock or corporate rock) is a style of rock music that became mainstream in the 1970s. It typically involves radio Radio is the technology of communicating using radio waves. Radio waves are e ...
juggernaut" and described their music as "
Pink Floyd Pink Floyd are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1965. Gaining an early following as one of the first British psychedelic music, psychedelic groups, they were distinguished by their extended compositions, sonic experiments ...
meets
Yes Yes or YES may refer to: * An affirmative particle in the English language; see yes and no Education * YES Prep Public Schools, Houston, Texas, US * Young Eisner Scholars, in Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, and Appalachia, US * Young Ep ...
and
the Who The Who are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic lineup (1964–1978) consisted of lead vocalist Roger Daltrey, guitarist Pete Townshend, bassist John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon. Considered one of th ...
at
Radio City Music Hall Radio City Music Hall (also known as Radio City) is an entertainment venue and Theater (structure), theater at 1260 Sixth Avenue (Manhattan), Avenue of the Americas, within Rockefeller Center, in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York C ...
". TSO has sold more than ten million concert tickets and over ten million albums. The band has released a series of
rock opera A rock opera is a collection of rock music songs with lyrics that relate to a common story. Rock operas are typically released as concept albums and are not scripted for acting, which distinguishes them from operas, although several have been ad ...
s: ''
Christmas Eve and Other Stories ''Christmas Eve and Other Stories'' is the debut studio album by American symphonic metal band Trans-Siberian Orchestra. It was released on October 15, 1996, through Lava Records and Atlantic Records. It is the first album in the band's "Christm ...
'', ''
The Christmas Attic ''The Christmas Attic'' is the second studio album by the American rock band Trans-Siberian Orchestra, released in 1998. The cover art is by Edgar Jerins. On September 5, 2019, ''The Christmas Attic'' was certified 2× platinum by the Recordin ...
'', ''
Beethoven's Last Night ''Beethoven's Last Night'' is a rock opera by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, released in 2000. The album tells the fictional story of Ludwig van Beethoven on the last night of his life, as the devil, Mephistopheles, comes to collect his soul. Wit ...
'', ''
The Lost Christmas Eve ''The Lost Christmas Eve'' is the fourth studio album by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. It was released on October 12, 2004, and is the last album in their "Christmas trilogy", with ''Christmas Eve and Other Stories'' (1996) and ''The Christmas ...
'', their two-disc ''
Night Castle ''Night Castle'' is the fifth studio album by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. It was released on October 28, 2009 as a double CD with a 60-page booklet illustrated by Greg Hildebrandt, and debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard charts and No. 1 on t ...
'' and ''
Letters from the Labyrinth ''Letters from the Labyrinth'' is the sixth studio album by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. It was released on November 13, 2015. The album is a collection of songs and stories. The stories being a nod to their previous full album ''Night Castle'', ...
''. Trans-Siberian Orchestra is also known for their extensive charity work and elaborate concerts, which include a string section, a light show, lasers, moving trusses, video screens, and effects synchronized to music. Both ''
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'' and ''
Pollstar ''Pollstar'' is a trade publication for the concert and live music industry. The publication was purchased by Oak View Group, a venue consultancy founded by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff, in July 2017. ''Pollstar'' holds an annual award ce ...
'' have ranked them as one of the top twenty-five ticket-selling bands in the first decade of the new millennium. Their path to success was unusual in that, according to O'Neill, TSO is the first major rock band to go straight to theaters and arenas, having never played at a club, never having been an opening act and never having had an opening act.


History


Origins and formation

Paul O'Neill managed and produced rock bands including
Aerosmith Aerosmith is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Boston in 1970. The group consists of lead vocalist Steven Tyler, bassist Tom Hamilton (musician), Tom Hamilton, drummer Joey Kramer, and guitarists Joe Perry (musician), Joe Perry and B ...
,
Humble Pie Humble Pie are an English Rock music, rock band formed by Steve Marriott and Peter Frampton in Moreton, Essex, in 1969. They are known as one of the first Supergroup (music), supergroups of the late 1960s and enjoyed success in the early 1970s ...
,
AC/DC AC/DC are an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1973. Their music has been variously described as hard rock, blues rock and Heavy metal music, heavy metal, although the band calls it simply "rock and roll". They are cited as a formativ ...
,
Joan Jett Joan Jett (born Joan Marie Larkin; September 22, 1958) is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and actress. Often referred to as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music#J, Godmother of Punk", she is regarded as a Pop icon, rock icon and ...
, and
Scorpions Scorpions are predatory arachnids of the Order (biology), order Scorpiones. They have eight legs and are easily recognized by a pair of Chela (organ), grasping pincers and a narrow, segmented tail, often carried in a characteristic forward cur ...
, later producing and co-writing albums by the
progressive metal Progressive metal (often shortened to prog metal) is a broad fusion music genre melding heavy metal music, heavy metal and progressive rock, combining the loud "aggression" and amplified electric guitar, guitar-driven sound of the former with t ...
band
Savatage Savatage () is an American heavy metal band founded by brothers Jon and Criss Oliva in 1979 in Tarpon Springs, Florida. The band was first called Avatar, but, shortly before the release of their debut album '' Sirens'' (1983), they changed t ...
, where he began working with
Robert Kinkel Robert Kinkel is an American professional session keyboardist and music engineer most known for his role as a co-creator/co-producer/co-composer and touring keyboardist with Trans-Siberian Orchestra along with extensive studio work with the pr ...
,
Al Pitrelli Al Pitrelli (born September 26, 1962) is an American guitarist, best known for his work with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Megadeth, Alice Cooper and Savatage. He has performed with various acts as a band member, session musician and touring me ...
and
Jon Oliva John Nicholas "Jon" Oliva (born July 22, 1959) is an American singer and musician. He is best known as the co-founder, keyboardist and lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Savatage, which he co-founded with his younger brother Criss Oliva. Si ...
. Oliva had left Savatage to spend time with his family and take care of personal matters. O'Neill took his first steps into rock music in the 1970s when he started the
progressive rock Progressive rock (shortened as prog rock or simply prog) is a broad genre of rock music that primarily developed in the United Kingdom through the mid- to late 1960s, peaking in the early-to-mid-1970s. Initially termed " progressive pop", the ...
band Slowburn, for whom he was the lyricist and co-composer. What was intended to be the band's debut album was recorded at
Jimi Hendrix James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942September 18, 1970) was an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential guitarists of all time. Inducted ...
's
Electric Lady Studios Electric Lady Studios is a recording studio in Greenwich Village, New York City. It was commissioned by rock musician Jimi Hendrix in 1968 and designed by architect John Storyk and audio engineer Eddie Kramer. It was completed by 1970. Hendrix ...
and engineered by Dave Wittman. Although Wittman's engineering was capturing the exact sound O'Neill was hearing in his head, O'Neill was having trouble with it because many of his melodies were between two and three octaves. Rather than releasing an album that he was not happy with, he shelved the project, but continued working in the industry at Contemporary Communications Corporation (also known as Leber & Krebs). Over the years, O'Neill continued to work as a writer, producer, manager, and concert promoter. In 1996, he accepted
Atlantic Records Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over the course of its first two decades, starting from the release of its first recor ...
' offer to start his own band. He built the band on a foundation created by the marriage of classical and
rock music Rock is a Music genre, genre of popular music that originated in the United States as "rock and roll" in the late 1940s and early 1950s, developing into a range of styles from the mid-1960s, primarily in the United States and the United Kingdo ...
and the artists he idolized, such as
Emerson, Lake & Palmer Emerson, Lake & Palmer (informally known as ELP) were an English progressive rock Supergroup (music), supergroup formed in London in 1970. The band consisted of Keith Emerson (keyboards) of The Nice, Greg Lake (vocals, bass, guitars, producer) ...
,
Queen Queen most commonly refers to: * Queen regnant, a female monarch of a kingdom * Queen consort, the wife of a reigning king * Queen (band), a British rock band Queen or QUEEN may also refer to: Monarchy * Queen dowager, the widow of a king * Q ...
,
Yes Yes or YES may refer to: * An affirmative particle in the English language; see yes and no Education * YES Prep Public Schools, Houston, Texas, US * Young Eisner Scholars, in Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, and Appalachia, US * Young Ep ...
,
The Who The Who are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic lineup (1964–1978) consisted of lead vocalist Roger Daltrey, guitarist Pete Townshend, bassist John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon. Considered one of th ...
, and
Pink Floyd Pink Floyd are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1965. Gaining an early following as one of the first British psychedelic music, psychedelic groups, they were distinguished by their extended compositions, sonic experiments ...
, and
hard rock Hard rock or heavy rock is a heavier subgenre of rock music typified by aggressive vocals and Distortion (music), distorted electric guitars. Hard rock began in the mid-1960s with the Garage rock, garage, Psychedelic rock, psychedelic and blues ...
bands such as
Aerosmith Aerosmith is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Boston in 1970. The group consists of lead vocalist Steven Tyler, bassist Tom Hamilton (musician), Tom Hamilton, drummer Joey Kramer, and guitarists Joe Perry (musician), Joe Perry and B ...
and
Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin were an English rock music, rock band formed in London in 1968. The band comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist-keyboardist John Paul Jones (musician), John Paul Jones and drummer John Bonham. With a he ...
and the multiple lead vocalists of the R&B groups
the Temptations The Temptations is an American vocal group formed in Detroit, Michigan, in 1961 as The Elgins, known for their string of successful singles and albums with Motown from the 1960s to the mid-1970s. The group's work with producer Norman Whitfield ...
and the
Four Tops The Four Tops are an American vocal group formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1953 as the Four Aims. They were one of the most commercially successful American pop music groups of the 1960s and helped propel Motown Records to international fame. The ...
. He brought in Oliva, Kinkel, and Pitrelli to help start the project. O'Neill has stated, "My original concept was six rock operas, a trilogy about Christmas and maybe one or two regular albums."
In the 1980s I was fortunate enough to have visited Russia. If anyone has ever seen Siberia, it is incredibly beautiful but incredibly harsh and unforgiving as well. The one thing that everyone who lives there has in common that runs across it in relative safety is the
Trans-Siberian Railway The Trans-Siberian Railway, historically known as the Great Siberian Route and often shortened to Transsib, is a large railway system that connects European Russia to the Russian Far East. Spanning a length of over , it is the longest railway ...
. Life, too, can be incredibly beautiful but also incredibly harsh and unforgiving, and the one thing that we all have in common that runs across it in relative safety is music. It was a little bit overly philosophical, but it sounded different, and I like the initials, TSO.


''Christmas Eve and Other Stories'' and ''The Christmas Attic'' (1996–1998, 2014)

Their debut album, the first installment of the intended Christmas Trilogy, was a
rock opera A rock opera is a collection of rock music songs with lyrics that relate to a common story. Rock operas are typically released as concept albums and are not scripted for acting, which distinguishes them from operas, although several have been ad ...
called ''
Christmas Eve and Other Stories ''Christmas Eve and Other Stories'' is the debut studio album by American symphonic metal band Trans-Siberian Orchestra. It was released on October 15, 1996, through Lava Records and Atlantic Records. It is the first album in the band's "Christm ...
'', and was released in 1996. It remains among their best-selling albums. It contains the instrumental "
Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24" is an instrumental medley of "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" and " Shchedryk" (the melody of which has been used for "Carol of the Bells"), first released on the Savatage album '' Dead Winter Dead'' in 1995 as "Christm ...
" which originally appeared on Savatage's rock opera, ''
Dead Winter Dead ''Dead Winter Dead'' is the ninth studio album by the American heavy metal band Savatage, released in 1995. It is a concept album, that tells a story from the perspectives of a Serb boy, a Bosniak girl and an old man. The story of the album is s ...
'', a story about the Bosnian War. Their 1998 release ''
The Christmas Attic ''The Christmas Attic'' is the second studio album by the American rock band Trans-Siberian Orchestra, released in 1998. The cover art is by Edgar Jerins. On September 5, 2019, ''The Christmas Attic'' was certified 2× platinum by the Recordin ...
'', the sequel to ''Christmas Eve and Other Stories'' followed a similar format. This album produced the hit "
Christmas Canon "Christmas Canon" is a Christmas song by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) from their 1998 album '' The Christmas Attic''. The song is set to the tune of Johann Pachelbel's '' Canon in D Major'' with new lyrics added. The style is a departure fro ...
", a take on
Johann Pachelbel Johann Pachelbel (also Bachelbel; baptised – buried 9 March 1706) was a German composer, organist, and teacher who brought the south German organ schools to their peak. He composed a large body of sacred and secularity, secular music, and ...
's ''
Canon in D major Pachelbel's Canon (also known as Canon in D, P 37) is an accompanied canon by the German Baroque composer Johann Pachelbel. The canon was originally scored for three violins and basso continuo and paired with a gigue, known as ''Canon and Gigue ...
'' with lyrics and new melodies added. The Christmas Attic was first performed live in 2014.


''Beethoven's Last Night'' (1999–2000, 2010–2012)

''
Beethoven's Last Night ''Beethoven's Last Night'' is a rock opera by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, released in 2000. The album tells the fictional story of Ludwig van Beethoven on the last night of his life, as the devil, Mephistopheles, comes to collect his soul. Wit ...
'' was written and recorded in 1998 and 1999 and turned over to Atlantic Records in late 1999 for release in 2000. The story begins when
Mephistopheles Mephistopheles ( , ), also known as Mephostophilis or Mephisto, is a demon featured in German folklore, originating as the chief devil in the Faust legend. He has since become a stock character appearing in Mephistopheles in the arts and popular ...
appears before Beethoven, whom Paul O'Neill refers to as "the world's first Heavy Metal Rock Star", to collect the great composer's soul. Of course Beethoven is horrified at the thought of eternal damnation, but the devil has an offer and the bargaining begins. There are numerous plot twists including the fate of his music, and the ending is based on a true but little known fact about Beethoven. Also in 1998, at the request of
Scott Shannon Michael Scott Shannon (born July 25, 1947) is an American radio disc jockey best known as the announcer of '' The Sean Hannity Show''. He also hosted the morning show for WCBS-FM in New York City from 2014 to 2022 as well as ''Scott Shannon Pres ...
of
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, they performed live for the first time in a charity concert for Blythedale Children's Hospital. In 1999, at the urging of Bill Louis, a DJ for
WNCX WNCX (98.5 FM) is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland, Ohio, featuring a classic rock format known as "98.5 WNCX". Owned by Audacy, Inc., WNCX serves Greater Cleveland and much of surrounding Northeast Ohio as a co-flagship statio ...
in Cleveland, they did their first tour, during which they debuted sections of ''Beethoven's Last Night''. They performed the album in its entirety for the first time during the spring tour of 2010. In October 2011, ''Beethoven's Last Night'' was released in Europe to coincide with their European tour with new cover art by Greg Hildebrandt and the missing pages of poetry from the original release. The Mephistopheles songs are sung by
Jon Oliva John Nicholas "Jon" Oliva (born July 22, 1959) is an American singer and musician. He is best known as the co-founder, keyboardist and lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Savatage, which he co-founded with his younger brother Criss Oliva. Si ...
. To coincide with the 2012 spring tour, ''Beethoven's Last Night: The Complete Narrated Version'' was released by Atlantic/Rhino/Warner Brothers Record. This two-disc deluxe edition includes all the music from the original release and, for the first time, the narration featured during live performances of the album. It comes packaged with a booklet filled with Hildebrandt's illustrations of the story, plus the full lyrics and narration. The narration is performed by Bryan Hicks, who has been handling the live narration on the tours for this album. Creator Paul O'Neill explains, "This is how I have always envisioned the story being experienced. Where the listener can relax, close their eyes and within minutes be wandering the streets of 1800s Vienna with Beethoven on the last great adventure of his life."


''The Lost Christmas Eve'' (2004, 2013, 2024)

Whenever the band was off the road they returned to the studio and in 2004 completed ''
The Lost Christmas Eve ''The Lost Christmas Eve'' is the fourth studio album by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. It was released on October 12, 2004, and is the last album in their "Christmas trilogy", with ''Christmas Eve and Other Stories'' (1996) and ''The Christmas ...
'', the final installment of the Christmas Trilogy. It is a story of loss and redemption that encompasses a rundown hotel, an old toy store, a blues bar, a Gothic cathedral and their respective inhabitants all intertwined on a single enchanted Christmas Eve in New York City. The next year they combined all three Christmas albums and released them in a box set titled ''The Christmas Trilogy,'' which also contained a DVD of their 1999 TV special '' The Ghosts of Christmas Eve'' (Each of the albums still continue to be available individually.) ''The Lost Christmas Eve'' was first performed live in 2012 followed by a encore tour in 2013. Critics once again called it "stunning showmanship" "that included every trick known to man kind including massive pyro, spectacular lasers, stages that hover over the audience, hot back up singers all the while constantly connecting with their audience."


''Night Castle'' (2009–2011)

After another few years of touring, ''
Night Castle ''Night Castle'' is the fifth studio album by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. It was released on October 28, 2009 as a double CD with a 60-page booklet illustrated by Greg Hildebrandt, and debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard charts and No. 1 on t ...
'', Trans-Siberian Orchestra's fifth album, released on October 27, 2009 was well received by fans and critics alike. It debuted at #5 on the ''Billboard'' Album Charts. It was certified gold in eight weeks and later platinum. "Their most ambitious and adventurous work to date. It runs the gamut from hard rock to classical taking the listener on a journey through history detailing the triumphs and follies of man but is ultimately a story of transformation and love." Initially intended to be their first regular, non rock opera, consisting of ten stand alone songs album, O'Neill credits Jon Oliva persistence that it was too early for such a move and that the fifth album had to be a rock opera. Insisting that "TSO was not like any other band and that the fans expected a story. It was a little bit of a role reversal because when we were working in Savatage, I was always wanting to do a concept record." The two-disc set includes a version of "
O Fortuna "O Fortuna" is a medieval Latin Goliardic poem which is part of the collection known as the '' Carmina Burana'', written in the early 13th century. It is a complaint about Fortuna, the inexorable fate that rules both gods and mortals in Roman m ...
" from ''
Carmina Burana ''Carmina Burana'' (, Latin for "Songs from Benediktbeuern" 'Buria'' in Latin is a manuscript of 254 poems and dramatic texts mostly from the 11th or 12th century, although some are from the 13th century. The pieces are mostly bawdy, irreveren ...
'' by
Carl Orff Carl Heinrich Maria Orff (; 10 July 1895 – 29 March 1982) was a German composer and music educator, who composed the cantata ''Carmina Burana (Orff), Carmina Burana'' (1937). The concepts of his Orff Schulwerk, Schulwerk were influential for ...
, which was previewed live by the band during their 2004–2008 tours. An
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version of the album released through
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contains an additional track entitled "The Flight of Cassandra". The first half is a rock opera about a seven-year-old child on a beach who meets a stranger from New York City who tells her a story that takes her all around the world and through time where she encounters various characters, many of which are based on historical individuals such as
Desiderius Erasmus Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus ( ; ; 28 October c. 1466 – 12 July 1536), commonly known in English as Erasmus of Rotterdam or simply Erasmus, was a Dutch Christian humanist, Catholic priest and Catholic theology, theologian, educationalist ...
. The second half pays homage to Trans-Siberian Orchestra's influences. It also contains new versions of several Savatage songs as well as "
Nut Rocker "Nut Rocker" is an instrumental rock single recorded by American instrumental ensemble B. Bumble and the Stingers that reached number 23 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in March 1962 and went to number 1 in the UK Singles Chart in May 1962. It i ...
", originally by
B. Bumble and the Stingers B. Bumble and the Stingers was an American instrumental ensemble in the early 1960s, specializing in rock and roll arrangements of classical melodies. The band's biggest hits were "Bumble Boogie", which reached number 21 in the US, and "Nut Rock ...
and previously made famous by
Emerson, Lake & Palmer Emerson, Lake & Palmer (informally known as ELP) were an English progressive rock Supergroup (music), supergroup formed in London in 1970. The band consisted of Keith Emerson (keyboards) of The Nice, Greg Lake (vocals, bass, guitars, producer) ...
, featuring
Greg Lake Gregory Stuart Lake (10 November 1947 – 7 December 2016) was an English musician, singer, and songwriter. He gained prominence as a founding member of the progressive rock bands King Crimson and Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP). Born and b ...
on bass guitar. In February 2011, ''Night Castle'' was released in Europe with two live bonus tracks ("Requiem" and "Toccata-Carpimus Noctem") added. Both live tracks were recorded on the 2010 spring tour at the
Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie Texas Trust CU Theatre is an American concert hall located in Grand Prairie, Texas, west of Dallas and east of Fort Worth. It is near Lone Star Park and Grand Prairie Stadium. The theatre is currently operated by AEG and owned by the City of G ...
, in Texas. Metal Kaoz, reviewed it as a two-hour plus double rock opera CD with, "no filler" that flows smoothly. "The classical layers meet the beauty of Metal music and form the fine blend... a wide range of emotions and musical colors...tracks that will blow your mind. Hit play and wander freely in TSO's, Night Castle."


''Dreams of Fireflies'' (2012)

On October 30, 2012 Trans-Siberian Orchestra released a new five-song EP entitled ''Dreams of Fireflies (On a Christmas Night)'' on Lava Republic Universal Records. It debuted in ''Billboard'' Magazine's Top 200 Albums chart at number #9, and #1 in the rock charts. It was the band's first EP and with a list price of five dollars or under was Trans-Siberian Orchestra's way of saying thank you to their fans. Rather than containing the usual TSO story, it was more like a
Harry Chapin Harry Forster Chapin (; December 7, 1942 – July 16, 1981) was an American singer-songwriter, philanthropist, and hunger activist best known for his folk rock and pop rock songs. He achieved worldwide success in the 1970s. Chapin, a Grammy Award- ...
album where a short story is contained within the song. For example, "Someday" is about how people have a tendency to put off saying thank you to individuals that they owe a great debt to and with the best of intention tell themselves that they will do it someday. Also each song is accompanied by a short poem.


''Tales of Winter: Selections from the TSO Rock Operas'' (2013)

Released on October 11, 2013, this fifteen-track collection is Trans-Siberian Orchestra's first
greatest hits A greatest hits album or best-of album is a type of compilation album that collects popular and commercially successful songs by a particular artist or band. While greatest hits albums are typically supported by the artist, they can also be creat ...
collection and includes songs from all six prior releases. Cover art once again provided by Greg Hildebrandt.


''Who I Am''

On November 11, 2011, TSO released a new choral piece entitled, "Who I Am". This was originally released as a digital download to fans who purchased tickets through the band's ticket pre-sale but later became available through other music sites as well as being released on their 2015 album, ''
Letters from the Labyrinth ''Letters from the Labyrinth'' is the sixth studio album by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. It was released on November 13, 2015. The album is a collection of songs and stories. The stories being a nod to their previous full album ''Night Castle'', ...
''. The song was performed live as the opening number for the 2011 winter tour in acknowledgment of the rough times many people in the world were going through but bringing a message of hope by pointing out that together we can solve these problems as earlier generations have done in the past. It was accompanied by sound and video clips of individuals who helped humanity progress forward or overcome seemingly impossible situations. The first quote and image was Reverend
Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr. (born Michael King Jr.; January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American Baptist minister, civil and political rights, civil rights activist and political philosopher who was a leader of the civil rights move ...
voice echoing " I have a dream...that all men will be judged by the content of their character," followed by President John F. Kennedy's inaugural challenge, "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." It included pictures of
Jonas Salk Jonas Edward Salk (; born Jonas Salk; October 28, 1914June 23, 1995) was an American virologist and medical researcher who developed one of the first successful polio vaccines. He was born in New York City and attended the City College of New ...
, the scientist who cured polio, Saint "Mother" Teresa of Calcutta who spent her life caring for the unwanted and ended with
Neil Armstrong Neil Alden Armstrong (August 5, 1930 – August 25, 2012) was an American astronaut and aerospace engineering, aeronautical engineer who, in 1969, became the Apollo 11#Lunar surface operations, first person to walk on the Moon. He was al ...
taking the first step on the Moon and the NASA's
Gene Kranz Eugene Francis Kranz (born August 17, 1933) is an American aerospace engineer who served as NASA's second Chief Flight Director, directing missions of the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs, including the first lunar landing mission, Apoll ...
paraphrased quote in regard to saving the astronauts aboard the damaged space capsule Apollo 13, that, "Failure is not an option."


''Merry Christmas Rabbi''

In 2013 the band announced the late November release of a novella, ''Merry Christmas Rabbi''. Referred to as the final missing piece to the Christmas Trilogy, it is the journal discovered by the girl in the ''Christmas Attic'' rock opera that leads into the song, "Dream Child". Press releases described it as "the story of a fateful Christmas Eve and how one of the craziest gambles in human history leads to a second chance for a troubled youth who finds himself past the point of no return."


Deaths and more touring

O'Neill died on April 5, 2017, at age 61, while staying at an
Embassy Suites by Hilton Embassy Suites by Hilton is a chain of all-suite hotels trademarked by Hilton Worldwide. , there are 257 locations in five countries and territories with 59,712 rooms. Similar to other Hilton brands, 212 Embassy Suites hotels are independently o ...
hotel on the
University of South Florida The University of South Florida (USF) is a Public university, public research university with its main campus located in Tampa, Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States, and other campuses in St. Petersburg, Florida, St. Petersburg and Sarasota, ...
campus in Tampa. Cause of death as determined by the
Hillsborough County, Florida Hillsborough County is located in the west-central portion of the U.S. state of Florida. In the 2020 census, the population was 1,459,762, making it the fourth-most populous county in Florida and the most populous county outside the Miami metro ...
medical examiner The medical examiner is an appointed official in some American jurisdictions who is trained in pathology and investigates deaths that occur under unusual or suspicious circumstances, to perform post-mortem examinations, and in some jurisdicti ...
’s office, was intoxication from a mixture of
methadone Methadone, sold under the brand names Dolophine and Methadose among others, is a synthetic opioid used medically to treat chronic pain and opioid use disorder. Prescribed for daily use, the medicine relieves cravings and opioid withdrawal sym ...
,
codeine Codeine is an opiate and prodrug of morphine mainly used to treat pain, coughing, and diarrhea. It is also commonly used as a recreational drug. It is found naturally in the sap of the opium poppy, ''Papaver somniferum''. It is typically use ...
,
Valium Diazepam, sold under the brand name Valium among others, is a medicine of the benzodiazepine family that acts as an anxiolytic. It is used to treat a range of conditions, including anxiety, seizures, alcohol withdrawal syndrome, muscle spas ...
and
doxylamine Doxylamine is an antihistamine medication used to treat insomnia and allergies, and—in combination with pyridoxine ( vitamin B6)—to treat morning sickness in pregnant women. It is available over-the-counter and is sold under such brand names ...
, and the manner of death as
drug abuse Substance misuse, also known as drug misuse or, in older vernacular, substance abuse, is the use of a drug in amounts or by methods that are harmful to the individual or others. It is a form of substance-related disorder, differing definitions ...
. In June of 2017, the organization announced that they would continue with their Christmas-themed touring. '' The Ghosts of Christmas Eve'' story, which they had performed in 2015 and 2016, was announced as their story once again for the 2017 tour. David Z, bassist for TSO, died on July 14, 2017, while touring with
Adrenaline Mob Adrenaline Mob is an American Heavy metal music, heavy metal supergroup (music), supergroup formed in early 2011 by singer Russell Allen, guitarist Mike Orlando and drummer Mike Portnoy. The band's current lineup consists of Allen, Orlando, and ...
for their "
We The People The Preamble to the United States Constitution, beginning with the words We the People, is a brief introductory statement of the Constitution's fundamental purposes and guiding principles. Courts have referred to it as reliable evidence of ...
" tour; a tractor-trailer veered off
Interstate 75 in Florida Interstate 75 (I-75) is a part of the Interstate Highway System that runs from the Hialeah– Miami Lakes border, a few miles northwest of Miami, to Sault Ste. Marie in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I-75 begins its national northward j ...
and struck the RV that Adrenaline Mob was riding in. Fellow TSO and Adrenaline Mob member
Russell Allen Russell Allen (born July 19, 1971) is an American singer best known as the vocalist of the progressive metal band Symphony X. He has also worked with the supergroups Star One, Allen-Lande, Adrenaline Mob, Level 10, and as one of fourteen vo ...
was also injured in the accident. For the 20th annual TSO winter tour in 2018, the band decided to once again tour with '' The Ghosts of Christmas Eve'' story. In 2019, TSO returned to the ''
Christmas Eve and Other Stories ''Christmas Eve and Other Stories'' is the debut studio album by American symphonic metal band Trans-Siberian Orchestra. It was released on October 15, 1996, through Lava Records and Atlantic Records. It is the first album in the band's "Christm ...
'' show, which had previously been performed from the inaugural 1999 tour through 2011. No tour was held in 2020, due to continued mass gathering restrictions tied to the
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States On December 31, 2019, China announced the discovery of a cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan. The first American case was reported on January 20, and United States Department of Health and Human Services, Health and Human Services Secreta ...
. The band instead played an online livestream performance of ''Christmas Eve and Other Stories'' on December 18, and returned to physical performances in 2021 with the same ''Christmas Eve and Other Stories'' show. In 2022, the band announced a tour of ''The Ghosts of Christmas Eve: The Best of TSO and More.'' A new instrumental song entitled "Carousels of Christmas", written by Jon Oliva, was performed on the 2022 tour. Keyboardist Vitalij Kuprij died on February 20, 2024.


Legacy


Bands influenced

In 2009, a group of musicians from the metro New York area formed a band, called The Wizards of Winter, inspired by TSO. The Wizards released their own limited-release Christmas album in 2011 while performing a mixture of TSO and original material in live concerts. In 2013, four of the original members of TSO — Tommy Farese, Guy LeMonnier, Tony Gaynor, and Michael Lanning toured as guests with The Wizards of Winter. Another original TSO vocalist,
Joe Cerisano Joe Cerisano is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and president of Outta' the Woods Records. He experienced his first taste of mainstream success as the frontman for the chart-making early 1980s rock band, Silver Condor and has gon ...
toured with them in 2014. The band released three new Christmas albums (''The Wizards of Winter'', '' The Magic of Winter'' and '' The Christmas Dream'') with Guy LeMonnier and Tony Gaynor joining the band as full members. The band performs their own original material when touring, with TSO songs added occasionally. In June 2018, long-time TSO drummer John O. Reilly also joined the Wizards of Winter as a full member.


Lighting displays

In 2005 Carson Williams started a synchronized lighting race when he used 88 Light-O-Rama channels, over ten thousand lights and a small radio transmitter to illuminate his home to "Wizards in Winter". A video of the house quickly went viral on the internet and eventually was picked up by Miller Lite as the theme for their TV ads over the next two years. Other homes soon followed eventually crossing to single homes with over a million lights. Soon after entire cities like Denver and Chicago were lighting their downtown districts in a similar manner, as well as many major theme parks such as Disney World and Universal Studios.


Philanthropic activities

Since Trans-Siberian Orchestra began touring, the band has donated over $16 million to a combination of local and national charities. At every tour stop, the group donates one dollar or more from each ticket sold to a local charity in the city where they are performing. A single day (two shows) in New Jersey's Izod arena yielded $40,000 to local charities. The band helps any charity or group they think is in need but especially ones that protect and help children. In 2010 Paul O'Neill voiced the band's philosophy on the TSO's web site and also in the 2010 Winter Tour Book, "We are all in this together. We must look out for the well being of each other, most of all the young. For the young are the architects of the future and we are the architects of the young. We can not tell those yet to be born that we did our best." Paul was a well known history buff.


Fans and crew

Paul O'Neill constantly stated that the fans own the band: "TSO's goal is to make the best albums and concerts we possibly can, sparing no amount of time or expense and then charge the lowest possible price. No musician or singer is on the TSO flight deck for the money. We do it because we love the energy from the crowd especially the kids. Also in Trans Siberian Orchestra the crew are as much a member of the band as anyone on the flight deck. They actually have the hardest jobs. They are the first ones in and the last ones out. Watching them at work is like watching a well choreographed ballet or military operation. TSO could not be TSO without them and we know it." Al Pitrelli summed it up more humorously, "No one in TSO is paid to be on the stage, that we do for free. The money is to stay out of trouble on our off time." Over the years, O'Neill consistently thanked the audience, referring to them as the second half of Trans-Siberian Orchestra and that without them TSO would just be notes and words echoing in an empty arena. "The fans' enthusiasm and energy power the stage show as much, if not more, than any local electric company."


Touring

In 1999, TSO performed a stage adaptation of ''Christmas Eve and Other Stories'' for its first live tour. The popularity of these initial shows prompted O'Neill to form two touring bands, divided between the East and West coasts, allowing TSO to perform a greater number of shows during their holiday touring period. In 2009, ''
Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...
'' ranked TSO as one of the Top 25 Touring Artists of the past decade. Live shows are known for their extensive use of
pyrotechnics Pyrotechnics is the science and craft of creating fireworks, but also includes safety matches, oxygen candles, Pyrotechnic fastener, explosive bolts (and other fasteners), parts of automotive airbags, as well as gas-pressure blasting in mining, q ...
,
lasers A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation. The word ''laser'' originated as an acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radi ...
, and lights synchronized with the performance. The band engaged in spring tours between 2010 and 2012. During the spring tours, the band played ''Beethoven's Last Night'' album in its entirety; songs of ''Night Castle'' were also played during these tours. In 2011, for the very first time in the band's history, a European leg was included, with venues predominantly in Germany, but also in Austria, Belgium, England, and Switzerland. Initially, Savatage was announced to reunite at the end of the TSO setlist. However, the plans were scrapped, as the band cited undisclosed personal matters that held Jon Oliva from being available to tour. Their 2012-2013 Fall/Winter tour, sponsored by the
Hallmark Channel Hallmark Channel is an American cable television network owned by Hallmark Media, a subsidiary of Hallmark Cards. The channel broadcasts family-oriented general entertainment programming, including television series and made-for-TV movies. ...
featured ''
The Lost Christmas Eve ''The Lost Christmas Eve'' is the fourth studio album by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. It was released on October 12, 2004, and is the last album in their "Christmas trilogy", with ''Christmas Eve and Other Stories'' (1996) and ''The Christmas ...
'' album in place of ''
Christmas Eve and Other Stories ''Christmas Eve and Other Stories'' is the debut studio album by American symphonic metal band Trans-Siberian Orchestra. It was released on October 15, 1996, through Lava Records and Atlantic Records. It is the first album in the band's "Christm ...
''. In 2013, TSO kicked off their second European tour with a performance on New Year's Eve 2013-14 in front of over one million fans at
Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...
's
Brandenburg Gate The Brandenburg Gate ( ) is an 18th-century Neoclassical architecture, neoclassical monument in Berlin. One of the best-known landmarks of Germany, it was erected on the site of a former city gate that marked the start of the road from Berlin t ...
. "A daring feat in which the band played three shows across two continents in 27 hours." The show was broadcast live to millions more on German television. In August 2014, the band announced the first half of the winter tour they would feature ''The Christmas Attic'', the only rock opera from the "Christmas Trilogy" never performed live up to that point. In August 2019, TSO announced the return of ''Christmas Eve and Other Stories'' for the winter tour. In August 2022, TSO announced the return of ''the Ghosts of Christmas Eve'' for the winter tour. A new instrumental song entitled "Carousels of Christmas Lights", written by Jon Oliva, is being performed on the 2022 tour. in September 2024, TSO announced the return of The Lost Christmas Eve, their first tour in many years without Hallmark Channel sponsorship. This year also marked the 20 millionth ticket sold and 20 million dollars given to charity.


Wacken Open Air Festival 2015

On July 30, 2015, Trans-Siberian Orchestra and a reunited Savatage headlined the 26th edition of Wacken Open Air Festival in Germany, which is the largest metal festival in the world. The 2015 festival lasted three days and featured over one hundred bands. This event marked both TSO's first outdoor festival appearance and first Savatage show in 13 years. A massive set was designed so that the two main festival stages would be identical, although this aspect of the show was not revealed until the second half of the performance. For the first 40 minutes Savatage played a reunion show featuring Jon Oliva as the main lead singer for the first time in over 25 years, as well as Zak Stevens. This was followed by a Trans-Siberian Orchestra set on the next stage debuting several new songs. Following this, for the first time in music history, the entire band played a coordinated set spanning the two festival main stages, connected by a catwalk. This united Trans-Siberian Orchestra featured four guitarists, four keyboard players, two drummers, two bassists, a full string section, and 24 vocalists and dancers performing in sync for nearly 80,000 people. In the televised broadcast a week after the show (but right before the actual performance), Paul O'Neill and Al Pitrelli admitted to being blindsided by non-stop rain and mud on the night before which removed any chance to check the staging until the actual show. Metal Recusants, which favorably reviewed the entire event said that " all the above shows were spectacular and memorable the Savatage's and Trans-Siberian Orchestra show is a whole new level of shows...I have never seen such a thing take place before and it was definitely a once in a lifetime experience."


List of touring performers

Guitarists: * Tristan Avakian (2003) *
Chris Caffery Christopher Caffery (born September 9, 1967) is an American Heavy metal music, heavy metal guitarist, best known for his work as a member of Savatage and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Caffery has been releasing solo records singing and playing g ...
(1999–) * George Cintron (2000) *
Angus Clark Angus Clark is a guitarist, singer, songwriter, and producer. He has toured with the internationally renowned and Grammy-winning New Age artist Kitaro and the hard rock acts Drill and Naked Sun. He is currently touring with the Trans-Siberian Or ...
(2001–2019, 2021–) *
Joel Hoekstra Joel Hoekstra (born December 13, 1970) is an American guitarist currently in the hard rock band Whitesnake. He also tours as a guitarist for Trans-Siberian Orchestra. The son of classical musicians, he started out playing cello and piano at a y ...
(2010–2014, 2016–2019, 2021–) * Bill Hudson (2015) *
Al Pitrelli Al Pitrelli (born September 26, 1962) is an American guitarist, best known for his work with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Megadeth, Alice Cooper and Savatage. He has performed with various acts as a band member, session musician and touring me ...
(1999, 2001–) *
Alex Skolnick Alex Skolnick (born September 29, 1968) is an American musician. He is best known as the lead guitarist and one of the songwriters of the thrash metal band Testament and has played with several other bands, including The Alex Skolnick Trio, Tran ...
(2000–2002, 2004–2009) Bassists: * Chris Altenhoff (2007–2009) * Tony Dickinson (2017–2019, 2021–) * Malcolm Gold (2001) *
Johnny Lee Middleton Johnny Lee Middleton (born May 7, 1963) is an American musician, best known as the bass guitarist for the heavy metal bands Savatage and Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Musical beginnings Middleton was born in St. Petersburg, Florida. His first exp ...
(1999–2000, 2002–) * David Z (2000–2006, 2010–2016; Died 2017) Keyboardists: * Luci Butler (2008–2013) * Carmine Giglio (2002–2005) * Mee Eun Kim (2000–2002, 2004–2007, 2011–2012, 2014–) *
Bob Kinkel Robert Kinkel is an American professional session keyboardist and music engineer most known for his role as a co-creator/co-producer/co-composer and touring keyboardist with Trans-Siberian Orchestra along with extensive studio work with the progr ...
(1999–2009) * Doug Kistner (2000) * Mark Klett (2024–) *
Vitalij Kuprij Vitalij Kuprij (July 7, 1974 – February 20, 2024) was a Ukrainian-American pianist, composer and music teacher. He was a keyboardist for Ring of Fire and Trans-Siberian Orchestra. He resided in Reading, Pennsylvania. Early life Vitalij began p ...
(2009–2019, 2021–2023; Died 2024) * Allison Lovejoy (2003) * Jane Mangini (2001–2019, 2021–) * John Margolis (1999, 2001) * Paul Morris (2000) * Derek Wieland (2006–) Electric Violinists: * Sarah Charness (2010) * Roddy Chong (2008–2019, 2021–) * Ted Falcon (2002) *
Asha Mevlana Asha Mevlana (born Asha Mevlana Clayton-Niederman) is an American violinist and travel presenter. She is known for playing an electric 7-string viper violin and for performing with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. She has released two albums with the ...
(2011–) *
Lucia Micarelli Lucia Micarelli is an American violinist, singer and actress best known for her collaborations with Josh Groban, Chris Botti, Jethro Tull (band), Jethro Tull, and her role as Annie Talarico in ''Treme (TV series), Treme''. Music career Micarel ...
(2003) * Caitlin Moe (2009–2010) * Anna Phoebe (2004–2009) * Valerie Vigoda (2000-2001) * Mark Wood (1999–2008) * Alison Zlotow (2008) Drummers: *
Blas Elias Blas Elias (born August 18, 1967) is an American musician and drummer of the glam metal band Slaughter. He also drums for the Las Vegas production of Blue Man Group. Elias has toured with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra since 2017, and has been a r ...
(2017–2019, 2021–) * Steve Murphy (2000–2001) *
Jeff Plate Jeff Plate (born March 26, 1962) is an American Heavy metal music, heavy metal drummer who has been a member of Savatage since 1994. He is also a member of Trans-Siberian Orchestra and a former member of Metal Church from 2006 to their break up i ...
(1999–) * John O. Reilly (2002–2016) Vocalists: * Ashley Adamek (2011) * Angelica Allen (2011) *
Russell Allen Russell Allen (born July 19, 1971) is an American singer best known as the vocalist of the progressive metal band Symphony X. He has also worked with the supergroups Star One, Allen-Lande, Adrenaline Mob, Level 10, and as one of fourteen vo ...
(2013–2018, 2020–) * Nate Amor (2019-) * April Berry (2009–2019, 2021–) * Robin Borneman (2013–2019, 2021–) * Dustin Brayley (2012–2019, 2021–) * John Brink (2010–2011, 2013–) *
Steve Broderick Steve Broderick (born January 1, 1981) is an American vocalist who was a member of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) is an American rock band founded in 1996 by producer, composer, and lyricist Paul O'Neill (producer) ...
(2000–2009) * Jennifer Cella (2001–2007, 2021) *
Joe Cerisano Joe Cerisano is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and president of Outta' the Woods Records. He experienced his first taste of mainstream success as the frontman for the chart-making early 1980s rock band, Silver Condor and has gon ...
(2000–2003) * Katrina Chester (1999, 2001) *
Tru Collins Trudy "Tru" Collins is an American actress and indie-pop singer. She is known for her role of Julie on MTV's original high school comedy, ''Awkward''. Early life and education Tru was born in Richmond, Virginia, to five-time Emmy Award winning ...
(2010) * Ava Davis (2012–2014, 2017) * Eileen Kaden Dean (2000) * Marcus DeLoach (2004) * Hayley Dorling (2019) * Daniel Emmet (2024–) *
Rob Evan Robert Buchen known professionally as Robert "Rob" Evan is an American actor and singer, best known as the lead performer in numerous Broadway musicals, a performer in national and international tours of musical productions, and a featured vocal ...
(2001, 2003, 2009–2017) * Dina Fanai (2002, 2003) * Tommy Farese (1999–2010) * Scout Ford (2007–2010) * Moriah Formica (2022–) * Jamey Garner (2008) * Jill Gioia (2003–2005) *
Alexa Goddard Alexa Goddard (born 21 December 1990) is an English pop and R&B singer from Blackwater, Hampshire previously signed to Roc Nation. Born in Camberley, Surrey, Goddard was spotted singing at a talent contest at the age of 14. From 2007 she featu ...
(2007–2008) * Kristin Lewis Gorman (2001–2010) * Gabriela Guncikova (2014–2015, 2023) * Heather Gunn (2005–2007) * Autumn Guzzardi (2010, 2012–2016) * Erin Henry (2006–2010) * Steena Hernandez (2006–2008) * Katie Hicks (2009–2010) * Tim Hockenberry (2008–2010) * Ashley Hollister (2016–2019, 2021) * Nathan James (2012–2014) *
Dino Jelusick Dino Jelusić (born 4 June 1992), also known by his stage name Dino Jelusick, is a Croatian singer, musician, and songwriter. He was the winner of the inaugural edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, in . He is the founder, principal son ...
(2016–2019, 2021–2022) * Erika Jerry (2010–2013, 2018–2022) *
Caleb Johnson Caleb Perry Johnson (born April 23, 1991) is an American singer who won the thirteenth season of ''American Idol''. Prior to appearing on the series, he was the front man for the band Elijah Hooker. After ''American Idol'', Johnson released hi ...
(2018–2019, 2021–) * Jodi Katz (2009–2019, 2021-2023) *
Kelly Keeling Kelly Keeling is an American musician, singer, and songwriter. He began his musical journey at the age of 14 and gained early recognition as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Baton Rouge. Over the course of his career, Keeling has col ...
(2006–2007) * Danielle Landherr (2003–2010) * Michael Lanning (2000–2005) * Rosie Lanziero (1999) *
Rosa Laricchiuta Rosa Laricchiuta (born February 26, 1981) is a Canadian singer-songwriter from Montreal, Quebec. She gained recognition for her contributions to the music industry. She is currently the lead singer of the female hard rock band Vixen. Musical ca ...
(2016–2019, 2021–) * Matt Laurent (2023) *
Lisa Lavie Lisa Lavie (surname pronounced ''lah-'') is a Canadian singer and songwriter originally from LaSalle, Quebec, Canada. Background Lavie's early musical influences included her older brothers, hip hop dancer Michael and disk jockey Danny. At age ...
(2014–2018) * Becca Lee (2015) * Guy LeMonnier (1999, 2002–2006) *
Mats Levén Mats Levén (born 11 September 1964) is a Swedish singer. Some of his most notable collaborations have been with guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, symphonic metallers Therion and doom metallers Candlemass. In 2011, due to family issues on the part ...
(2016–2018) * James Lewis (2004–2012; Died 2023) * Gary Lindemann (2000) * Tany Ling (2004–2006) * Guy Lockard (2010) *
Chloe Lowery Chloe Elaine Lowery is an American singer and songwriter. By the age of 12 she was signed to RCA Records. She was featured on two film soundtracks during that time, '' Boys and Girls'' and " Joe Somebody." She toured with Big Brother and the ...
(2010–) * Dari Mahnic (2011) * Maxx Mann (2002, 2006) * Sanya Mateyas (2002–2003) * Mackenzie Meadows (2023) * Abby Lynn Mulay (2009) *
Ronny Munroe Ronny Munroe (born November 22, 1965) is an American singer, most noted as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Metal Church from 2003 until the band broke up in 2009. His second tenure with the band lasted from 2012 when the group reunite ...
(2011–2012) * Georgia Napolitano (2010–) * Jenna O'Gara (2021) * Daryl Pediford (1999–2003, died 2004) * Jay Pierce (2004–2009, 2012) * Natalya Rose Piette (2010–2019, 2021–) * Chris Pinnella (2012) * Valentina Porter (2008–2009) * Cynthia Posner (2000) * Sophia Ramos (2001) * Kayla Reeves (2010–2019, 2021–) * Joe Retta (2015) * Marisa Rhodes (2007) * Andrew Ross (2007–2019, 2021–) * Bart Shatto (2002–2011, 2014–2015) * Peter Shaw (2005–2007) * Allie Sheridan (2003) * Rebecca Simon (2000) *
Jeff Scott Soto Jeff Scott Soto (born November 4, 1965) is an American Rock music, rock singer of Puerto Rican descent. He is perhaps best known for being the vocalist on Yngwie Malmsteen's first two albums, and the lead vocalist for Journey (band), Journey i ...
(2008–) *
Zachary Stevens Zachary Trussell (born March 5, 1966), known professionally as Zachary "Zak" Stevens, is an American singer, best known as the second lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Savatage. He currently performs with the heavy metal bands Circle II Circ ...
(2015–2019, 2021–) * Kay Story (2000) *
Becca Tobin Rebecca Grace Tobin (born January 18, 1986) is an American actress, singer, and dancer. She is known for her role as Kitty Wilde on the Fox musical comedy-drama series ''Glee''. Early life Tobin grew up in Marietta, Georgia, the younger of two ...
(2011) * Gabbie Rae Trial (aka GabrieLa) (2021–) * Lorea Turner (2024-) * Marilyn Villamar (2002) *
Adrienne Warren Adrienne Warren is an American actress, singer and dancer. She made her Broadway debut in the 2012 musical '' Bring It On'', and in 2016 received a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical nomination for her performance in '' Shuffle Alo ...
(2008) * Kelsie Watts (2024-) * Rod Weber (2000–2002) * Jason Wooten (2010) Narrators: * Phillip Brandon (2010–2019, 2021–) * Tim Cain (2000–2002) * Tony Gaynor (1999–2009) * Bryan Hicks (2003–)


Discography

* ''
Christmas Eve and Other Stories ''Christmas Eve and Other Stories'' is the debut studio album by American symphonic metal band Trans-Siberian Orchestra. It was released on October 15, 1996, through Lava Records and Atlantic Records. It is the first album in the band's "Christm ...
'' (1996) * ''
The Christmas Attic ''The Christmas Attic'' is the second studio album by the American rock band Trans-Siberian Orchestra, released in 1998. The cover art is by Edgar Jerins. On September 5, 2019, ''The Christmas Attic'' was certified 2× platinum by the Recordin ...
'' (1998) * '' The Ghosts of Christmas Eve'' (live video) (1999) (released to DVD in 2003) * ''
Beethoven's Last Night ''Beethoven's Last Night'' is a rock opera by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, released in 2000. The album tells the fictional story of Ludwig van Beethoven on the last night of his life, as the devil, Mephistopheles, comes to collect his soul. Wit ...
'' (2000) * ''
The Lost Christmas Eve ''The Lost Christmas Eve'' is the fourth studio album by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. It was released on October 12, 2004, and is the last album in their "Christmas trilogy", with ''Christmas Eve and Other Stories'' (1996) and ''The Christmas ...
'' (2004) * ''
Night Castle ''Night Castle'' is the fifth studio album by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. It was released on October 28, 2009 as a double CD with a 60-page booklet illustrated by Greg Hildebrandt, and debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard charts and No. 1 on t ...
'' (2009) * ''
Dreams of Fireflies ''Dreams of Fireflies (On a Christmas Night)'' is an Extended play, EP by the rock band Trans-Siberian Orchestra. It was released in 2012 on Lava Records, and is based on the fourth movement (Winter) of Antonio Vivaldi, Vivaldi's ''The Four Seaso ...
(On a Christmas Night)'' (EP) (2012) * '' Tales of Winter: Selections from the TSO Rock Operas'' (compilation) (2013) * ''
Letters from the Labyrinth ''Letters from the Labyrinth'' is the sixth studio album by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. It was released on November 13, 2015. The album is a collection of songs and stories. The stories being a nod to their previous full album ''Night Castle'', ...
'' (2015)


See also

*
Christmas music Christmas music comprises a variety of Music genre, genres of music regularly performed or heard around the Christmas and holiday season, Christmas season. Music associated with Christmas may be purely instrumental, or in the case of Christmas ...
*
Mannheim Steamroller Mannheim Steamroller is an American neoclassical new-age music ensemble founded and directed by percussionist/composer Chip Davis in 1974. The group is known primarily for its '' Fresh Aire'' series of albums, which blend classical music with e ...
* The Wizards of Winter


References


External links

* * * {{Authority control American instrumental rock musical groups American progressive metal musical groups American symphonic metal musical groups Atlantic Records artists Christmas music Musical groups established in 1993 Savatage