ACO Principal Viola Stef is all smiles as a Christmas angel

Satu's dreaming of a white Christmas...

"I’ll be spending Christmas in Japan so it’s appropriate to share a shot from my childhood around Christmas in Otsu, Shiga. Unlike in the northern parts of Japan it only snows occasionally in my childhood-hometown." - ACO Principal Violin, Satu Vänskä

ACO Violin Ilya and his family celebrating New Year 

ACO Cello Melissa stays cosy in the snow

And a few years later...

"Here is a pic from when I took my daughter to the Australian Ballet’s Nutcracker a few years ago in 2019. What with Covid, it feels like the last time I got dressed up and went out properly!"

Dear Santa composer Jessica Wells remembers musical Christmas presents

"When I was little I got my first keyboard from Santa, the age of four I think, and loved playing on it with my brother," Jess says.

"When I was eight I wanted a Walkman and got one - with the cassette tape of Ghostbusters soundtrack which I played on repeat and really made me love Elmer Bernstein’s orchestral score with a solo cello and an Ondes Martenot!"

Director Tim McGarry reminisces about  favourite childhood presents...

"My favourite present from Santa was this plastic lawn mower - because I always wanted to mow the lawn like my dad - and I still love mowing the lawn all these years later! I don't dare say what year this was taken..." - Tim McGarry, director of our ACO Families Christmas show, Dear Santa.

Dear Santa plays from 17 to 22 December at ACO Pier 2/3 in Sydney's Walsh Bay Arts Precinct. Click here to book tickets now.