WORTHINGTON — The Worthington Area Symphony Orchestra will serve up a generous portion of pre-holiday music during its 7 p.m. Nov. 23 concert at Memorial Auditorium Performing Arts Center, 714 13th St., Worthington.

“Each WASO concert has a mixture of pieces — some that people maybe haven’t heard before and some everyone will find familiar,” said Karen Pfeifer, a WASO violist and leadership team member. “But it’s all entertaining.”

Scheduled the Saturday preceding Thanksgiving, WASO organizers trust the concert’s timing allows for comfortable attendance, no matter one’s age. Growing their audience base and regional awareness are clear goals.

“We’re offering free passes for this concert to elementary through high school music students in District 518, to students at St. Mary’s and Worthington Christian schools and to the music students of the music educators who play in WASO,” said Pfeifer. “Having a student attend with their family, or with a parent, will give many people a chance to experience our orchestra.”

And what an experience “Rockin’ with Rachmaninoff” (the concert’s alliterative theme) promises to be.

Renowned Norwegian pianist, Oda Voltersvik, is set to light up the concert’s first half as she performs the first movement of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto #2, followed by Edvard Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A Minor.

“Oda is one of the most talented international up-and-coming pianists,” said WASO conductor Christopher Stanichar. “Her performance will be the icing on the cake of this concert, which will have many highlights. And between the Rachmaninoff and Grieg, the audience will get a taste of two different Romantic era composers.”

Stanichar is a fan of Rachmaninoff’s music, parts of which even people who aren’t classical music aficionados will certainly recognize.

For instance, the main melodic lines in Eric Carmen’s mid-1970s hits “All By Myself” and “Never Gonna Fall in Love Again” are based on the very Rachmaninoff piano concerto Voltersvik will play.

“There’s something about Rachmaninoff that really speaks to my soul,” said Stanichar. “He wears all his emotions on both sleeves, and I can tell the musicians relate to it, too. I’ve been working with the orchestra on the rubato I expect Oda will incorporate.”

A second Rachmaninoff delight, “Vocalise,” is on the program.

“That might be my favorite piece in the entire concert,” said Pfeifer.

Attendees can expect a lively and festive second half.

“It’s all holiday-themed,” said Stanichar, and Pfeifer added, “I love the fun holiday music.”

Listen for “Christmas at the Movies,” a mash-up of tunes from five different Christmas films (think “Polar Express,” “Miracle on 34th Street” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”), “Gabriel’s Oboe” from the 1986 movie “The Mission,” “Bugler’s Holiday” featuring WASO’s trumpet section and “Christmas Overture” by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.

“Coleridge-Taylor was a black British composer who wrote during the early years of the 20th century,” said Stanichar. “His music had kind of been forgotten but has recently been played worldwide and is well received.”

Oh — and don’t forget “A Mad Russian’s Christmas,” a creative and contemporary arrangement of The Nutcracker Suite from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and WASO’s traditional fall concert-closer, Dan Goeller’s “Christmas Carol Sing-Along.”

As pre-concert rehearsals ramp up, “The orchestra is doing great,” assured Stanichar.

WASO’s 52 multi-generational musicians, who come to Worthington from points up to an hour away, join Pfeifer in the joy of making music.

“There aren’t community orchestras in towns our size anywhere else in the area,” said Pfeifer. “We provide an opportunity for musicians from a 60-mile radius to play in a unique, non-competitive community orchestra with others who share a love of music and a desire to provide quality performances.”

Stanichar is pleased that this year’s ensemble includes a solid number of high school student musicians. He similarly praises the opportunities WASO affords to performers and audience members alike.

“One of the most rewarding aspects of music is that no matter where you’re coming from — politically, ethnically, socially or otherwise — it brings us all together to create and enjoy a beautiful sound,” said Stanichar. “And music aids in releasing and expressing emotion.”

Added Pfeifer, a founding member of the 14-year-old ensemble, “WASO’s fall concert is a tradition I look forward to every year.”

For tickets, call the Memorial Auditorium box office at (507) 376-9101, visit friendsoftheauditorium.com, or stop by during box office hours. A free reception follows concert.