Trans-Siberian Orchestra (often abbreviated as
TSO) is a
rockRock music is a genre of popular music that entered the mainstream in the 1960s. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, rhythm and blues, country music and also drew on folk music, jazz and classical music....
orchestraAn orchestra is an instrumental ensemble, usually fairly large with string, brass, woodwind sections, and possibly a percussion section as well. The term orchestra derives from the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
founded in 1996 by
Paul O'NeillPaul O'Neill is a music composer, lyricist, producer and writer.-Early career:A New York City native, O'Neill began playing guitar with a number of rock bands in high school and quickly graduated to folk guitar gigs at downtown clubs...
, who immediately approached long time friends
Jon OlivaJohn Nicholas Oliva is best known simply as Jon Oliva and as founder of and lead vocalist for Savatage. He was the third of four children...
,
Robert KinkelBob Kinkel is a professional session keyboardist and music engineer. He attended Hamilton College and graduated with a Bachelor of arts in music with a minor in physics....
, and
Al PitrelliAl Pitrelli is a guitarist, best known for his work with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Megadeth, Savatage and Blue Öyster Cult.-Early career :...
. The band's musical style incorporates
progressive rockProgressive rock is a form of rock music that evolved in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility."...
,
symphonic metalSymphonic metal or opera metal is a term used to describe heavy metal music that has symphonic elements; that is, elements that sound similar to a classical symphony. Symphonic metal is both a genre of metal and a name given to several subgenres of other metal genres, and as such, both forms of...
, and
heavy metalHeavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in England and the United States...
, with influences from
classical musicClassical music is the mainstream music produced in, or rooted in the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 9th century to present times...
. Trans-Siberian Orchestra has recorded and performed renditions of traditional
ChristmasChristmas , also referred to as Christmas Day, is an annual holiday celebrated on December 25 that commemorates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. The day marks the beginning of the larger season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days. The nativity of Jesus, which is the basis for the anno Domini...
songs, and these have been among their most popular works. They are also known for their elaborate concerts, complete with a full light show and dozens of pyrotechnics that are synchronized with the actual performance.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra was founded in 1996 in New York City by composer
Paul O'NeillPaul O'Neill is a music composer, lyricist, producer and writer.-Early career:A New York City native, O'Neill began playing guitar with a number of rock bands in high school and quickly graduated to folk guitar gigs at downtown clubs...
who immediately approached long time friends
Jon OlivaJohn Nicholas Oliva is best known simply as Jon Oliva and as founder of and lead vocalist for Savatage. He was the third of four children...
,
Robert KinkelBob Kinkel is a professional session keyboardist and music engineer. He attended Hamilton College and graduated with a Bachelor of arts in music with a minor in physics....
, and
Al PitrelliAl Pitrelli is a guitarist, best known for his work with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Megadeth, Savatage and Blue Öyster Cult.-Early career :...
.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra (often abbreviated as
TSO) is a
rockRock music is a genre of popular music that entered the mainstream in the 1960s. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, rhythm and blues, country music and also drew on folk music, jazz and classical music....
orchestraAn orchestra is an instrumental ensemble, usually fairly large with string, brass, woodwind sections, and possibly a percussion section as well. The term orchestra derives from the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
founded in 1996 by
Paul O'NeillPaul O'Neill is a music composer, lyricist, producer and writer.-Early career:A New York City native, O'Neill began playing guitar with a number of rock bands in high school and quickly graduated to folk guitar gigs at downtown clubs...
, who immediately approached long time friends
Jon OlivaJohn Nicholas Oliva is best known simply as Jon Oliva and as founder of and lead vocalist for Savatage. He was the third of four children...
,
Robert KinkelBob Kinkel is a professional session keyboardist and music engineer. He attended Hamilton College and graduated with a Bachelor of arts in music with a minor in physics....
, and
Al PitrelliAl Pitrelli is a guitarist, best known for his work with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Megadeth, Savatage and Blue Öyster Cult.-Early career :...
. The band's musical style incorporates
progressive rockProgressive rock is a form of rock music that evolved in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility."...
,
symphonic metalSymphonic metal or opera metal is a term used to describe heavy metal music that has symphonic elements; that is, elements that sound similar to a classical symphony. Symphonic metal is both a genre of metal and a name given to several subgenres of other metal genres, and as such, both forms of...
, and
heavy metalHeavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in England and the United States...
, with influences from
classical musicClassical music is the mainstream music produced in, or rooted in the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 9th century to present times...
. Trans-Siberian Orchestra has recorded and performed renditions of traditional
ChristmasChristmas , also referred to as Christmas Day, is an annual holiday celebrated on December 25 that commemorates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. The day marks the beginning of the larger season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days. The nativity of Jesus, which is the basis for the anno Domini...
songs, and these have been among their most popular works. They are also known for their elaborate concerts, complete with a full light show and dozens of pyrotechnics that are synchronized with the actual performance.
Biography
Trans-Siberian Orchestra was founded in 1996 in New York City by composer
Paul O'NeillPaul O'Neill is a music composer, lyricist, producer and writer.-Early career:A New York City native, O'Neill began playing guitar with a number of rock bands in high school and quickly graduated to folk guitar gigs at downtown clubs...
who immediately approached long time friends
Jon OlivaJohn Nicholas Oliva is best known simply as Jon Oliva and as founder of and lead vocalist for Savatage. He was the third of four children...
,
Robert KinkelBob Kinkel is a professional session keyboardist and music engineer. He attended Hamilton College and graduated with a Bachelor of arts in music with a minor in physics....
, and
Al PitrelliAl Pitrelli is a guitarist, best known for his work with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Megadeth, Savatage and Blue Öyster Cult.-Early career :...
. The group's name is inspired by the
Trans-Siberian RailwayThe Trans-Siberian Railway or Trans-Siberian Railroad is a network of railways connecting Moscow and European Russia with the Russian Far East provinces, Mongolia, China and the Sea of Japan.-Route development:The original plans and funding for construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway...
in Russia, which Kinkel says connects many cultures otherwise isolated, much like music.
O'Neill had managed and produced rock bands including
AerosmithAerosmith is an American hard rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and seen by some as America's greatest rock and roll band. Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues,, and has...
,
Humble PieTo eat humble pie, in common usage, is to apologize and face humiliation for a serious error. Humble pie, or umble pie, is also a term for a variety of pastries, originally based on medieval meat tripe pies.- Etymology :...
, and
ScorpionsThe Scorpions are a heavy metal/hard rock band from Hanover, Germany, probably best known for their 1980s rock anthem "Rock You Like a Hurricane" and their singles "No One Like You", "Send Me an Angel, "Still Loving You", and "Wind of Change"...
, later writing for and producing Savatage, where he began working with Kinkel and Oliva. The concept for a band playing
Christmas carolA Christmas carol is a carol whose lyrics are on the theme of Christmas, or the winter season in general and which are traditionally sung in the period before Christmas and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ....
s in a
rock operaA rock opera is a musical work that presents a storyline told over multiple parts, songs or sections. A rock opera differs from a conventional rock album, which usually includes songs that are not unified by a common theme or narrative. More recent developments include metal opera and rap opera...
style was not received warmly by the industry, but quickly proved a success with adults as well as young people.
In the recording studio, Trans-Siberian Orchestra uses a full 60-piece
orchestraAn orchestra is an instrumental ensemble, usually fairly large with string, brass, woodwind sections, and possibly a percussion section as well. The term orchestra derives from the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
and a choir. As of 2004, their touring band included fourteen vocalists, fourteen musicians, and two narrators.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra released their debut album
Christmas Eve and Other Stories in 1996, and it remains their best-selling album. From then on, TSO cover arts are painted by popular artist Greg Hildebrandt. Their 1998 release
The Christmas Attic was similarly a concept album with a
ChristmasChristmas , also referred to as Christmas Day, is an annual holiday celebrated on December 25 that commemorates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. The day marks the beginning of the larger season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days. The nativity of Jesus, which is the basis for the anno Domini...
theme. This album featured what remains one of their most recognizable songs,
Christmas Canon"Christmas Canon" is a Christmas song by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra from their 1998 album The Christmas Attic. It has debuted on the iTunes Top 100 download chart at #48 during Christmas time....
, a take on Pachelbel's
Canon in DPachelbel's Canon, also known as Canon in D major, or more formally Canon and Gigue in D major for three Violins and Basso Continuo , is the most famous piece of music by Johann Pachelbel...
.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra played their first live show in Philadelphia, PA in 1999. In 2000, they released their first (and to date only) non-Christmas album,
Beethoven's Last Night, a
concept albumIn popular music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical". Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs...
about
Ludwig van BeethovenLudwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. He was a crucial figure in the transitional period between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western classical music, and remains one of the most acclaimed and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, of the Electorate of Cologne and...
's last night on earth, during which he meets Fate, her son Twist, and
MephistophelesMephistopheles is the name of the demon in the Faust legend. The character has since appeared in other works as a stock character version of the devil.-In the Faust legend:...
. However, sales of their LONG promised album, Night Castle, have begun with a full album release in October of 2009. Night Castle is a two CD set and pre-release sales include a download of five tracks in MP3 format.
After several years of touring, they returned to the studio and subsequently released another full-length album,
The Lost Christmas Eve, and the accompanying
DVDDVD, also known as Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc,is an optical disc storage media format, and was founded in 1995. Its main uses are video and data storage...
/3-
CDA Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store sound recordings exclusively, but later it also allowed the preservation of other types of data. Audio CDs have been commercially available since October 1982...
release
The Christmas Trilogy, which contained all three of their Christmas albums to date.
The 2005 TSO tour placed twenty-first on the list of the most successful concert tours of the year, earning just over US$21 million. The string section comprises local musicians. Live shows are known for their extensive use of
pyrotechnicsPyrotechnics is the science of materials capable of undergoing self-contained and self-sustained exothermic chemical reactions for the production of heat, light, gas, smoke and/or sound...
, lasers & lights synchronized with the performance, all of which takes 15 hours to set up.
Shows are divided into two halves: the first consisting of the story and songs of
Christmas Eve and Other StoriesChristmas Eve and Other Stories is a CD of Christmas carols by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. This CD takes familiar carols and adds to them the rock touch that the Trans-Siberian Orchestra is known for...
, the second a mix of songs from
The Christmas AtticThe Christmas Attic is the second album of Christmas carols by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. This CD takes familiar carols and adds to them the rock touch that the Trans-Siberian Orchestra is known for...
,
Beethoven's Last NightBeethoven's Last Night is a concept album 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...
,
The Lost Christmas EveThe Lost Christmas Eve is the fourth 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 and The Christmas Attic coming before it...
, and a few miscellaneous covers (that in the past have included "
Layla"Layla" is a song by rock band Derek and the Dominos and the thirteenth track from their album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, released in December 1970. It is considered one of rock music's definitive love songs, featuring an unmistakable guitar figure, played by Eric Clapton and Duane...
", "
Immigrant Song"Immigrant Song" is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin. It was released as a single from their third album, Led Zeppelin III, in 1970.-Overview:...
", and "Proud Mary"), finishing with a reprise of "
Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 is an instrumental medley of "Carol of the Bells" and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" first released on the Savatage album Dead Winter Dead in 1995 as "Christmas Eve ." It was re-released by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, a side project of several Savatage members, on...
. The 2008 tour also featured a 2-song Savatage selection ("Prelude to Madness" from
Hall of the Mountain KingHall of the Mountain King is an album by the progressive metal group Savatage, released in 1987 under the direction of Paul O'Neill.This album shows the beginning of their progressive tendencies as they explore new forms of expression in their music...
and "Believe" from
Streets: A Rock OperaStreets: A Rock Opera is a concept album by Savatage, dealing with the rise and fall of the musician DT Jesus. It was originally released in October 1991 on Atlantic Records...
", although only the East touring company played both songs; the West company, for reasons unknown, only performed "Prelude To Madness".
Night Castle is a non-Christmas album of Trans-Siberian Orchestra that will be released on October 27, 2009. It will include a version of "
O FortunaO Fortuna is a medieval Latin Goliardic poem composed early in the thirteenth century, part of the collection known as the Carmina Burana. It is a complaint about fate, and Fortuna, a goddess in Roman mythology, is a personification of luck. In 1935–36 O Fortuna was set to music by the German...
" from
Carmina BuranaCarmina Burana is a scenic cantata composed by Carl Orff between 1935 and 1936. It is based on 24 of the poems found in the medieval collection Carmina Burana...
by
Carl OrffCarl Orff was a 20th-century German composer, best known for his oratorio Carmina Burana . In addition to his career as a composer, Orff developed an influential method of music education for children.-Early life:...
, which was previewed live by the band during their 2004-2008 tours. In an interview with
Rockmymonkey.com,
Jon OlivaJohn Nicholas Oliva is best known simply as Jon Oliva and as founder of and lead vocalist for Savatage. He was the third of four children...
confirmed that he would be recording vocal parts for the album (the last Trans-Siberian Orchestra album to feature Oliva's vocals was 2000's
Beethoven's Last NightBeethoven's Last Night is a concept album 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...
).
Kurdt VanderhoofKurdt Vanderhoof is an American guitarist, who was the lead guitarist and founding member of the American heavy metal band Metal Church. He formed the band in 1980 after the alias given to his San Francisco apartment. Vanderhoof moved back to his hometown, Aberdeen, Washington. In 1981, he formed a...
of
Metal ChurchMetal Church was an American heavy metal band from Aberdeen, Washington. They originally formed as Shrapnel in 1980, their first album was released in 1984, and the band's most recent work, This Present Wasteland, was released in 2008....
would also contribute guitar parts to the album.
During performances of their 2006 tour,
Chris CafferyChris Caffery is a heavy metal guitarist who is best known for his work as a member of Savatage and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra...
stated that production of
Nightcastle was behind schedule largely because of the band's perfectionism. This delay echoes the two-year delay in the release of
Beethoven's Last NightBeethoven's Last Night is a concept album 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...
and the year-long delay in the release of
The Lost Christmas EveThe Lost Christmas Eve is the fourth 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 and The Christmas Attic coming before it...
. TSO stated, on their website, that they are "buried in the studio" attempting to finish the album.
In several cities during their 2007-2008 winter tour, a joke was made on-stage as to what we would be more likely to see in our lifetimes: a McDonald's on Mars, or the release of the long awaited album. This was followed by the band's performance of 'O Fortuna' which will be on the upcoming album. Trans-Siberian Orchestra has consistently surprised New York/New Jersey fans with a special encore every year. From 2005-2008 the orchestra included special appearances by Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, Joan Jett, and other celebrities from the rock world.
In the 2008 edition of TSO's souvenir program there is a page featuring "excerpts from the lyrics on
Nightcastle copyrighted 2007
Paul O'NeillPaul Henry O'Neill served as the 72nd United States Secretary of the Treasury for part of President George W. Bush's first term. He resigned in December 2002 under pressure from the administration and became a harsh critic. O'Neill was chairman and CEO of Pittsburgh-based industrial giant Alcoa...
. The song is titled "There Was a Life" and is adjacent to a full page photo of
Al PitrelliAl Pitrelli is a guitarist, best known for his work with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Megadeth, Savatage and Blue Öyster Cult.-Early career :...
on the west coast and a picture of Robert Kinkel on the east coast. This song is not one of the three featured in the concert, but a few new instrumentals have currently been performed.
In a interview at ytsejam.com, Jon Oliva mentioned the project went into its final stages and mixing on August 10, 2008. He also made mention of the album being a double album, half Paul O'Neill's "rock opera" and half instrumental.
On October 8, 2008, when Paul O'Neill was interviewed on Seattle's Bob Rivers radio show, he mentioned that during 2008's TSO Christmas tour, more songs will be played from
Nightcastle, but the album may not be released until the summer of 2009 (if not later). On November 24, 2008, TSO released "Night Enchanted", the first song on the album
via Amazon MP3. The song is also available to purchase
on iTunes.
In early April 2009, the Web site
nightcastlealbum.com was discovered to be active. As of October 6, 2009, Amazon.com indicates that
Night Castle is a 2-disc set scheduled for release on October 26, 2009.
TSO tours and touring groups
Trans-Siberian Orchestra first took the show on the road in 1999, with a handful of concerts in Philadelphia, New York City, Cleveland, Chicago, and Detroit. The next year, two separate touring groups were formed to allow the band to cover more ground in the short holiday timeframe. TSO has maintained the two-group format since then, and by the 2008 tour, both groups were on the road from the beginning of November to the first week in January. The two touring groups are informally known as TSO East and TSO West, although these descriptions are not entirely literal; before 2008, for example, TSO West historically played in Atlanta and Florida. Both groups have appeared in Midwestern cities such as Chicago and Indianapolis.
The 2008 touring groups were as follows.
| TSO West, 2008 Touring Members |
TSO East, 2008 Touring Members |
Chris Altenhoff (bass)
Angus ClarkAngus Clark is a guitarist, singer, songwriter, and producer. He has toured with the internationally-renowned and Grammy-winning New Age artist Kitaro, as well as with the hard rock acts Drill and Naked Sun, and is currently touring with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.His stage performance on the...
(guitar)
Tommy Farese (vocals; lead on "Ornament" and "This Christmas Day")
Scout Ford (vocals; lead on "Good King Joy")
Anthony Gaynor (narrator)
Christie George (vocals)
Kristen Lewis Gorman (vocals; lead on "Queen of the Winter Night")
Erin Henry (vocals; lead on "Promises to Keep" and "Christmas Canon")
Steena Hernandez (vocals)
Jane Mangini (keyboards)
John O'Reilly (drums)
Al PitrelliAl Pitrelli is a guitarist, best known for his work with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Megadeth, Savatage and Blue Öyster Cult.-Early career :...
(guitar, musical director)
Andrew Ross (vocals; lead on "An Angel Came Down" and "An Angel Returned")
Bart ShattoBart Shatto is a Broadway theatre actor/singer who has appeared in the Broadway musicals Les Misérables, The Civil War and Dracula, the Musical as well as the national tour of Cats. He is a veteran member of the rock band The Trans-Siberian Orchestra.Shatto is from Peoria, Illinois, but lived in...
(vocals; lead on "Old City Bar")
Jeff Scott SotoJeff Scott Soto is an American rock singer of Puerto Rican descent. He is best known for being the vocalist on Yngwie Malmsteen's first two albums, and for stepping up to the job of lead vocalist for Journey on their 2006-2007 tours after Steve Augeri had to leave the band for surgery...
(vocals; lead on "Prince of Peace")
Derek Weiland (keyboards)
Mark WoodMark Winthrop Wood is an electric violinist, as well as the founder of Wood Violins, a company that makes high quality, unique electric violins. He is also an Emmy-winning composer. His music and strings education program has been featured on news programs nationwide.He is a former member of the...
(string director)
Alison Zlotow (strings)
|
Steve Broderick-External links:**...
(vocals; lead on "Old City Bar")
Lucinda Anne Butler (keyboards)
Chris CafferyChris Caffery is a heavy metal guitarist who is best known for his work as a member of Savatage and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra...
(guitar)
Roddy Chong (strings)
Jamey Garner (vocals; lead on "An Angel Came Down" and "An Angel Returned")
Alexa Goddard (vocals)
Bryan Hicks (narrator)
Tim Hockenberry (vocals; lead on "Believe")
Bob Kinkel (keyboards, musical director)
Danielle Landherr (vocals; lead on "Queen of the Winter Night")
Johnny Lee MiddletonJohnny Lee Middleton is an American musician and songwriter, best known as the bass guitar player for Savatage and Trans-Siberian Orchestra.-Musical Beginnings:...
(bass)
James Lewis (vocals; lead on "Ornament" and "This Christmas Day")
Anna PhoebeAnna Phoebe , is a London-based violinist, who is known for her proficiency in many musical genres, including rock, folk, jazz, Celtic, and Middle Eastern music.-Biography:...
(string master)
Jay Pierce (vocals; lead on "Prince of Peace" and "Good King Joy")
Jeff PlateJeff Plate is a professional drummer and percussionist. He currently plays with the progressive rock group Trans-Siberian Orchestra as well as the band Metal Church, although he is remembered for his drumming for the band, Savatage on their albums since Japan Live '94.Plate grew up near Elmira,...
(drums)
Kelly Valentina Porter (vocals)
Alex SkolnickAlexander Nathan Skolnick is an American jazz and metal guitarist. He is a member of the thrash metal band Testament from its formation in San Francisco in 1983 until his departure in 1992...
(guitar)
Adrienne WarrenAdrienne Lefon Warren is a professional singing, acting and dancing performer.-Personal:Adrienne Lefon Warren was born in 1987. She was a student at Marymount Manhattan College, studying theater and musical theater, and graduated in May 2009...
(vocals; lead on "Promises to Keep" and "Christmas Canon")
|
Members (past, present and touring only)
Composer
- Paul O'Neill
Paul O'Neill is a music composer, lyricist, producer and writer.-Early career:A New York City native, O'Neill began playing guitar with a number of rock bands in high school and quickly graduated to folk guitar gigs at downtown clubs...
- Composer, lyricist, producerIn the music industry, a record producer has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes...
- Jon Oliva
John Nicholas Oliva is best known simply as Jon Oliva and as founder of and lead vocalist for Savatage. He was the third of four children...
- ComposerA composer is a person who creates music, usually by musical notation, for interpretation and performance. The level of distinction between composers and other musicians varies, which affects issues such as copyright and the deference given to individual interpretations of a particular piece of...
- Robert Kinkel
Bob Kinkel is a professional session keyboardist and music engineer. He attended Hamilton College and graduated with a Bachelor of arts in music with a minor in physics....
- Co-Producer, KeyboardsA keyboard instrument is any musical instrument played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include various types of organs as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, music director
- Al Pitrelli
Al Pitrelli is a guitarist, best known for his work with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Megadeth, Savatage and Blue Öyster Cult.-Early career :...
- Guitars, music director
Vocals
- Adrienne Warren
Adrienne Lefon Warren is a professional singing, acting and dancing performer.-Personal:Adrienne Lefon Warren was born in 1987. She was a student at Marymount Manhattan College, studying theater and musical theater, and graduated in May 2009...
- James Lewis
- Tommy Farese
- Anthony Gaynor (also Narrator)
- Alexa Goddard
- Kristin Lewis Gorman
- Erin Henry
- Steena Hernandez
- Jay Pierce
- Bart Shatto
- Brad Lewis
- Steve Broderick
-External links:**...
- Danielle Landherr
- Andrew Ross
- Scout (Scout Ford)
- Bryan Hicks (also Narrator)
- Jeff Scott Soto
Jeff Scott Soto is an American rock singer of Puerto Rican descent. He is best known for being the vocalist on Yngwie Malmsteen's first two albums, and for stepping up to the job of lead vocalist for Journey on their 2006-2007 tours after Steve Augeri had to leave the band for surgery...
- Tim Hockenberry
- Jamey Garner
- Valentina Porter
Guitar
- Al Pitrelli
Al Pitrelli is a guitarist, best known for his work with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Megadeth, Savatage and Blue Öyster Cult.-Early career :...
- Chris Caffery
Chris Caffery is a heavy metal guitarist who is best known for his work as a member of Savatage and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra...
- Alex Skolnick
Alexander Nathan Skolnick is an American jazz and metal guitarist. He is a member of the thrash metal band Testament from its formation in San Francisco in 1983 until his departure in 1992...
- 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, as well as with the hard rock acts Drill and Naked Sun, and is currently touring with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.His stage performance on the...
- Jon Bivona
Bass
- Johnny Lee Middleton
Johnny Lee Middleton is an American musician and songwriter, best known as the bass guitar player for Savatage and Trans-Siberian Orchestra.-Musical Beginnings:...
- Chris Altenhoff
- John Weir
Drums
- Jeff Plate
Jeff Plate is a professional drummer and percussionist. He currently plays with the progressive rock group Trans-Siberian Orchestra as well as the band Metal Church, although he is remembered for his drumming for the band, Savatage on their albums since Japan Live '94.Plate grew up near Elmira,...
- John O. Reilly
Keyboards
- Jane Mangini
- Derek Wieland
- Luci Butler
- Donald Rooney
Violin
- Anna Phoebe
Anna Phoebe , is a London-based violinist, who is known for her proficiency in many musical genres, including rock, folk, jazz, Celtic, and Middle Eastern music.-Biography:...
- Alison Zlotow
- Roddy Chong
Former members
- Joe Cerisano
Joe Cerisano, , is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and President of Outta' the Woods Records. He is often referred to as "possibly the most famous anonymous singer in America".-Early life:...
- Patti Russo
Patti Russo is an American singer/songwriter/actress. She is perhaps best known as the female lead vocalist of Meat Loaf, touring the world with his Neverland Express band for fourteen years.-Career:...
- Heather Gunn
- Rob Evan
- Peter Shaw
- Mee Eun Kim - Keyboards
- Maxx (Max Mann)
- Zachary Stevens
Zachary "Zak" Stevens , is best known as the former lead vocalist of the band Savatage. He is also a drummer and a psychologist.Stevens first achieved fame singing for a band called Wicked Witch...
- Vocals
- Tany Ling - Vocals
- David Z
David Z is the bassist for ZO2, a rock band. He also played bass for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Chris Caffery and was a centerfold in Playgirl Magazine.- Albums :With ZO2With Chris CafferyWith John Henry Sheridan...
- Bass
- Daryl Pediford - Vocals
- Michael Lanning - Vocals
- Guy LeMonnier- Vocals
- Kelly Keeling
Kelly Keeling is an American musician. Keeling is most famous for his role as the lead singer of the heavy metal band Baton Rouge.-Biography:...
-Vocals
- Marisa Rhodes - Vocals
- Jennifer Cella
Jennifer Cella was a singer for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.Jennifer sings Christmas Canon Rock on tour as the lead vocalist for TSO's Eastern Tour. This is the live performance version of their extremely popular Christmas Canon. Christmas Canon Rock is available on TSO's The Lost Christmas Eve...
- Mark Wood
Mark Winthrop Wood is an electric violinist, as well as the founder of Wood Violins, a company that makes high quality, unique electric violins. He is also an Emmy-winning composer. His music and strings education program has been featured on news programs nationwide.He is a former member of the...
Cellist:
Elliza Esquavez
Brandon Murphy-Marcello
Studio albums
| Date of release |
Title |
Label |
Billboard peak The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling new music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
|
RIAA cert. In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
|
| 1996-10-15 |
Christmas Eve and Other Stories Christmas Eve and Other Stories is a CD of Christmas carols by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. This CD takes familiar carols and adds to them the rock touch that the Trans-Siberian Orchestra is known for...
|
Lava Lava Records is an American based record label, owned by Warner Music Group, and operates through Atlantic Records.-Company history:Lava Records was established in 1995 as a joint venture between Atlantic Records and Jason Flom, who began his career with Atlantic Records...
|
89 |
2x platinum |
| 1998-09-15 |
The Christmas Attic The Christmas Attic is the second album of Christmas carols by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. This CD takes familiar carols and adds to them the rock touch that the Trans-Siberian Orchestra is known for...
|
103 |
Platinum |
| 2000-04-11 |
Beethoven's Last Night Beethoven's Last Night is a concept album 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...
|
WarnerWarner Music Group is the third-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the "big four" record companies. The current incarnation of the company was formed in 2004 when it was spun off by Time Warner, and as a result, Time Warner no longer...
/AtlanticAtlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm & blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
|
165 |
Gold |
| 2004-10-12 |
The Lost Christmas Eve The Lost Christmas Eve is the fourth 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 and The Christmas Attic coming before it...
|
Lava |
26 |
Platinum |
| 2009-10-27 |
Night Castle |
- |
- |
Compilation albums
- 2007: Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Limited Edition EP (Lava
Lava Records is an American based record label, owned by Warner Music Group, and operates through Atlantic Records.-Company history:Lava Records was established in 1995 as a joint venture between Atlantic Records and Jason Flom, who began his career with Atlantic Records...
) sold exclusively at Wal-MartWal-Mart Stores, Inc. is an American public corporation that runs a chain of large, discount department stores. It is the world's largest public corporation by revenue, according to the 2008 Fortune Global 500. The company was founded by Sam Walton in 1962, incorporated on October 31, 1969, and...
stores
| Track No. |
Song Title |
Notes |
| 1 |
A Mad Russian's Christmas |
Originally released 1996 on "Christmas Eve and Other Stories Christmas Eve and Other Stories is a CD of Christmas carols by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. This CD takes familiar carols and adds to them the rock touch that the Trans-Siberian Orchestra is known for...
" |
| 2 |
Dream Child (A Christmas Dream) |
Originally released 1998 on "The Christmas Attic The Christmas Attic is the second album of Christmas carols by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. This CD takes familiar carols and adds to them the rock touch that the Trans-Siberian Orchestra is known for...
" |
| 3 |
A Last Illusion |
Originally released 2000 on "Beethoven's Last Night Beethoven's Last Night is a concept album 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...
" |
| 4 |
Christmas Canon Rock |
Originally released 2004 on "The Lost Christmas Eve The Lost Christmas Eve is the fourth 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 and The Christmas Attic coming before it...
" |
| 5 |
Heal My Soul |
Adaptation of a song originally released on Savatage Savatage is an American progressive metal band founded by the brothers Jon and Criss Oliva in 1978 at Astro Skate in Tarpon Springs, Florida. The band has been inactive since the release of their last album in 2001, and have not performed live together since 2002, instead concentrating on the more...
's "Streets: A Rock OperaStreets: A Rock Opera is a concept album by Savatage, dealing with the rise and fall of the musician DT Jesus. It was originally released in October 1991 on Atlantic Records...
" album |
| 6 |
Prince of Peace (Live) |
Live male vocalist performance recorded at New York City's Madison Square GardenMadison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, has been the name of four arenas in New York City. It is also the name of the entity which owns the arena and several of the professional sports franchises which play there. There have been four incarnations of...
- 2006 |
Box sets
- 2004: Christmas Trilogy – Contains all 3 previous Christmas CDs and the "The Ghosts of Christmas Eve" DVD
Non-album tracks
- Whoville Medley (Perfect Christmas Night/Grinch) - From the How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000 film) Soundtrack featuring vocalist Patti Russo
Patti Russo is an American singer/songwriter/actress. She is perhaps best known as the female lead vocalist of Meat Loaf, touring the world with his Neverland Express band for fourteen years.-Career:...
Philanthropy
TSO signed on as an official supporter of
Little Kids RockLittle Kids Rock is a nonprofit organization that provides free instruments and lessons to children in under-served public schools. The organization is supported by a number of music industry luminaries including Bonnie Raitt, Slash , Joe Satriani, BB King, Jason Newsted, Linkin Park's Brad Delson,...
, a nonprofit organization that provides free musical instruments and instruction to children in poor public schools throughout the USA. The band has donated grants to LKR to help them hold free teacher trainings. They also sit on LKR's Honorary Board of Directors.
See also
- Carson Williams
Carson Williams from Mason, Ohio, USA, is noted for his light shows using Christmas lights affixed to and around his house. The lights are programmed and synchronized to turn on and off with music using a computer application and set of controllers from the company...
, the electrical engineer from Mason, OhioMason is a city in southwestern Warren County, Ohio, United States. As of the 2000 census, Mason's population was 22,016. It was the fastest-growing and most populous city in the county...
who choreographed his outdoor Christmas lights to the song "Wizards in Winter" by Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
- Savatage
Savatage is an American progressive metal band founded by the brothers Jon and Criss Oliva in 1978 at Astro Skate in Tarpon Springs, Florida. The band has been inactive since the release of their last album in 2001, and have not performed live together since 2002, instead concentrating on the more...
External links