SYMPHONY HOLIDAY CONCERTS SET TO BEGIN DECEMBER 12 An exciting selection is offered including orchestral and choral concerts, the annual Gospel Christmas concert, and Itzhak Perlman conducting The Messiah St. Louis, Missouri - The Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra will present - in what has become a St. Louis area family tradition -- a variety of holiday inspired concerts in December.  The first concert is the ninth annual Gospel Christmas concert 7:30 p.m. Friday, December 12.  The Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra and the IN UNISON® Chorus, led by Robert Ray, will fill Powell Symphony Hall with the glorious sounds of gospel.  The incomparable gospel star CeCe Winans joins the orchestra chorus for an evening to remember. Media celebrity Debbye Turner returns to emcee the event. Itzhak Perlman conducts the Orchestra in two performances of Handel's masterpiece The Messiah at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, December 13 and again at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, December 14.  The Symphony Chorus, directed by Amy Kaiser, joins the orchestra in presenting this celebrated religious oratorio. Singer and soloists; Heidi Grant Murphy, David Daniels, Robert Breault, and Kevin Deas will also accompany the orchestra.         In a series of eight concerts beginning 2:00 p.m., Thursday, December 18, David Amado returns to Powell Symphony Hall to lead the Orchestra in favorite classical melodies featuring soloist Billy Porter, the St. Louis Metro Singers and an audience sing-a-long.  The concerts will continue at 7:30 p.m., December 18; 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Friday, December 19; 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, December 20, and 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, December 21. All concerts take place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 N. Grand Boulevard (at Delmar) in Grand Center.  Tickets are on sale at the Powell Symphony Hall Box Office, by telephone at (314) 534-1700 and online at www.slso.org .  Tickets are $15 - $60. Special rates are available to groups of 20 or more by calling (314) 286-4126.