Last night the Wizards of Winter kicked off their Christmas season tour in Lorain, Ohio at the Lorain Palace Theatre, bringing fans two full sets of holiday cheer. Having seen all-star ensemble a few times before locally in Pittsburgh, we knew it would be worth the drive to the quaint little Cleveland suburb along Lake Erie and we were not disappointed.
This has been one of those years where the holidays seem to have snuck up on me, having just vacationed at The Sands Generation X festival in Cancun with Trixter and other bands from the era, it has been quite the transition going from palm trees and sunshine to Christmas Trees and snowflakes. But, the Ariel Broadway hotel and The Lorain Palace Theatre offered up magical decorations to get us in the holiday spirit as soon as we arrived on “main” street.
Originally formed for a charity show as a way to give back to the band’s hometown community food pantry, the Wizards of Winter ensemble grew when composer and keyboardist Scott Kelly joined forces with former members of Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) more than a decade ago following a social media connection with vocalist Tommy Farese.
Composer and keyboardist Scott Kelly is joined by his wife Sharon Kelly on flute and lead vocals, and Scott’s writing partner and lead guitarist Fred Gorhau (Ted Poley, Dark Sky Choir, Exxplorer) . The ensemble which blends progressive and theatrical orchestrations with rock and metal influences is brought to life through the powerful voice of story teller Tony Gaynor, who some will recognize as the first narrator for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and the Hallmark movie special The Ghosts of Christmas Eve. Other TSO alumni in the current ensemble include vocalist and actor Guy LeMonnier and former TSO drummer John O. Reilly.
Additional vocals are provided by Alexis Smith, who takes on the Mrs. Claus persona with lots of smiles and personality along with her choral vocal and auxiliary keyboards duties, choral vocalist and violinist Lacie Carpenter, and Manny Cabo, who many will recognize as a finalist from the reality TV show The Voice.
The all-star band also includes guitarist Steve Brown (Trixter, Eric Martin Band, Def Leppard), who worked with the late Ace Frehley (KISS) on his final studio album 10,000 Volts, as well as bassist Greg Smith who has performed with a growing list of legends that include The Guess Who, Ted Nugent, The Turtles, Alice Cooper, Billy Joel, and many more.
They Wizards of Winter continue to win over more fans each year with original compositions like “The Christmas Dream (Salzburg Carol)” and the wicked “Ebeneezer,” blending traditional carols with a bit of fun. Audiences of all ages will find themselves grinning when the beach balls start flying and a mid-show snowball fight erupts. From the nightingale voice of the “New Queen” to the blazing guitar tribute to the Prince of Darkness himself, you won’t want to miss a minute of this two-set rock n’ roll symphony. Check out The Wizards of Winter on the road this month or next at one of the show listed below. To learn more, follow their socials or visit www.wizardsofwinter.com.
Coverage by Editor and founder Kara Marie Uhrlen on 11/22/2025. All event photos © Kara Uhrlen and The Pure Rock Shop.
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