COEUR d'ALENE - It won't be the music you hear while shopping for gifts.

Rather, the sound of Christmas will cascade through North Idaho College's Schuler Performing Arts Center as a powerful blend of spiritual, folk and American carols orchestrated by the Coeur d'Alene Symphony Orchestra.

Ho-ho-ho never sounded like this.

"The whole thing tells the Christmas story," said William Berry, the Spokane native and longtime music composer whose pieces have been played in the New York Philharmonic. "It won't be the music you hear at the mall."

The 45-minute piece, which moves between genres into one blended piece, took Berry all summer to compose.

Well worth it, as the compilation will be the center piece during the Coeur d'Alene Symphony Orchestra's annual Holiday Magic Concert Saturday, Dec. 10.

The seasonal tradition, now pushing 30 years, changes every year, as tweaks, adjustments and total 180s make each show a different musical experience.

Another added wrinkle to the upcoming performance, besides Berry's blend: choirs from Charter Academy, Lake City and Coeur d'Alene high schools will join the team on stage.

"This isn't something a small city gets," said Bob Bittick, volunteer and music supporter, on the local group. Rather, it's something "Seattle, Portland and San Francisco" would land.

So 180 vocalists and 70 orchestra musicians will fill the Lake City concert hall with the sound of the season beginning at 7:30 p.m.

The roughly two-hour show will have an intermission, with refreshments available.

And for anyone who must have the traditional, familiar holiday songs - don't worry, a piece or two from the world-famous "Nutcracker" will work its way in before the grand finale.

Spokane Public Radio's Verne Windham will give a pre-concert lecture half an hour before the show.

Tickets, $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and $8 for students under 18, are available from the symphony office at 765-3833, Great Harvest Bread Co., 2106 N. Government Way, Burt's Music, 1123 Sherman Ave., or at www.cdasymphony.org.

Schuler Performing Arts Center is at 1000 W. Garden Ave.