As a special treat for this year’s Christmas on the River, the Alabama Symphony Orchestra played a free concert at the First Baptist Church Tuesday night.

The orchestra, which consists of 54 of the nation’s finest musicians, has been providing music for Alabamians for more than 70 years.

Each year, in addition to the more than 100 paid concerts the orchestra performs, it also performs nearly a dozen free performances and plays to more than 11,000 school children.

Aside from full rehearsal and concert schedule with the orchestra, many musicians with the orchestra also pursue solo opportunities, teach private lessons and are on the faculties of local universities.

The COTR will continue tonight with the community-wide service at the Trinity Episcopal Church. The non-denominational service is a way for all Demopolites to come together and enjoy the reason for the season.

Coinciding with the Community-wide service is the traditional live nativity scene, the retelling of the birth of Christ using live people and animals to play the parts.

The church service will begin at 7 p.m. and the Nativity will take place from 7:30-9 p.m. Both events will be at the Trinity Episcopal Church, located at 401 North Main Street.