On the first day of Christmas, the Bangor Symphony gave to me: 450 singers singing, 160 musicians playing, 55 dancers dancing, 18 steel drummers drumming, 12 bells a-ringing, one conductor conducting, and an audience of Bangor families.

There probably won’t be any partridges in pear trees or maids a-milking, but the Bangor Symphony Orchestra’s “Spirit of Bangor” holiday extravaganza, set for this Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 1-2, at the Bangor Auditorium, is the ultimate Christmas present to the Queen City.

Bringing together the BSO, the Robinson Ballet, dancers from the Thomas School of Dance, the Bangor Symphony Youth Orchestra, the Bangor Area Children’s Choir, the UMaine Oratorio Society, the University Singers, the Bangor High School Choir and Symphonic Band, the Jubilation Bell Ringers and the Planet Pan Steel Drum Band, “Spirit of Bangor” is the biggest event the BSO has ever undertaken. Maestro Xiao-Lu Li has put together a program of choral works, traditional carols and Christmas pieces, as well as excerpts from “The Nutcracker,” featuring the Robinson Ballet.

Li, always a cheerleader for the Bangor community, is especially thrilled about bringing together the youth organizations with the BSO.

“These are outstanding groups to work with. The young people are truly remarkable, and they inspire so many of us. They are our hope,” said Li. “It’s about the holiday spirit, and the togetherness of American people, and the children involved. That’s really what I’m looking forward to.”

A special arrangement of “Panis Angelicus” a sacred hymn composed by Cesar Franck, will be performed by the Bangor Area Children’s Choir and members of the Bangor Symphony Youth Orchestra. The choir features a combination of first-year singers (from fourth through sixth grades) and second-year-and-beyond singers (from seventh through 12th grades). Artistic director Michele Hall has worked diligently with the singers over the past months to ready them for the big show.

“It has been asking above and beyond to have a work such as ‘Panis Angelicus’ settled in their vocal chords, to say nothing of singing in Latin! They have risen to the occasion though,” said Hall. “They, and I, are pleased to be working with other student musicians. All 53 singers are also waiting to hear Maestro Li, who said he hopes to come and sit with the strings for ‘Panis.'”

With more than 600 people onstage, the Bangor Auditorium is the only place around big enough to house all the talent – and with the Maine Center for the Arts out of commission until 2009, this was the perfect year to offer an event on a scale such as this. A community-wide holiday concert has been on the BSO’s agenda for some years now.

“Traditionally we’ve done ‘The Nutcracker’ at the MCA. There’s no venue around that can undertake that, with the sets involved, so that gave us an opportunity to look at what we would like to do,” said David Whitehill, executive director for the BSO. “We’re starting a new tradition. We’ve partnered with all the major arts organizations in town, so it’s not just professionals. We’re handing all these groups a megaphone. Our mission is not only music; it’s about community.”

One particularly community-centric segment of “Spirit of Bangor” is the audience singalong of the “Hallelujah” chorus from Handel’s “Messiah.” Yes, you read that right: The audience will sing the famous refrain with the choirs and the orchestras. That’s worth the price of admission alone.

There’s also the inclusion of the Blue Hill-based Planet Pan Steel Drum Band, as well as the recently added master of ceremonies Suzanne Nance, music director and host of morning classical music on MPBN.

In addition, there’s the fact that this particular concert is readily accessible to all members of the community. Through a partnership with the Libra Foundation and a number of local service agencies, the BSO is offering 500 free tickets to low-income families, as well as discounted tickets to children.

“Great tickets are left, some of which are starting at $15. Kids can come for as cheap as $8,” said Whitehill. “A family of four can come for 46 bucks. And we want this to be about family. I personally love to see the smiling faces walk in, and I love to see the kids dressed in their holiday best, and see the joy and excitement they have about attending a performance like this.”

There’s just one question left: How do you wrangle 600-plus people into one cohesive whole – especially when the ages of the performers in question range from 9 years old to 75?

“The challenge is always there, but the excitement of 500 people onstage is there too. It’s the challenge compared to excitement, and the challenge is just overwhelmed by that,” said Li. “It’s team spirit. The magic that together we can achieve.”

“Spirit of Bangor” will be performed at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, at the Bangor Auditorium. Tickets range from $15 to $35 ($8 for children) and can be purchased by calling the Auditorium at 947-5555. For information on agencies offering free tickets for low-income families, visit www.bangorsymphony.com. Emily Burnham can be reached at eburnham@bangordailynews.net.