October 6, 2025 • 8 mins
We spoke with Joel Hoekstra, a guitarist in the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, about the all-new show "The Ghosts of Christmas Eve - The Best of TSO and More" — the biggest and best tour to date. Trans-Siberian Orchestra will be performing at Mohegan Sun on November 30. Enjoy TSO's awe-inspiring rock, classical, and holiday music!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning, thank you for listening to Community Access. I'm
Allison de Murs. My guest this morning is from the
Trans Siberian Orchestra Juel Hoakestra.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Good morning, Hey, good morning. How are you.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
I'm doing great. It's getting to be that time of
year where we all get to go see you in concert.
The twenty twenty five Trans Siberian Orchestra Winter Tour is
taking place at Mohegan Sun on November thirtieth. Let's talk
about it.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Yeah, awesome, thank you so much. So this year, if
you haven't seen TSO before, I suppose I should say,
first there's a story on the front half, and this
year that's the Ghost of Christmas Eve, and that's the
greatest hits or a best of musically speaking, so great
opportunity if you haven't heard us before to come out
and hear the songs that put us on the map
and made us who we are today. And then the
(00:50):
second half of the show is a little bit more
of just like a free willing, you know, rock concert
that focuses on the magnitude of the production. Again, if
you haven't seen TSO, not only is it we like
to think great musically, but incredible. Look at it's an
incredible production. We've got a video wall the width of
the arena with unbelievable imagery on it. Killer laser light
(01:12):
show reminiscent of Pink Floyd, pyrotechnics that are like incredible
moving hydraulic lifts, performers performing out like over the crowd
at times on those, and we run through the audience.
Sometimes I've played directly right in front of you and
you a guitar pick and whatnot, and it snows indoors.
I mean, you name it. It's a visual spectacle for sure.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
It really is a beautiful experience. The talent is amazing,
off the hook, the singing, the instruments. Like you said,
it's this show and you just look around you go
because you're just like, oh my gosh, look at that,
look at listen to this, look at you. It just
blows your mind. And then the story. Last year when
(01:54):
I went, the story was just so beautiful and it
just touches your hearts, very meaningful. So there's so much
I could say about it. It's just amazing, But you
have to see it for yourself.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Yeah, absolutely, I think it's something you have to experience
to really understand it's an unbelievable formula that our founder
Paul o'nehill came upon at this it's truly something unique
because it does appeal to all ages, which is remarkable.
And that's why I say it's a bit of a
family event. I mean, we've got people that have made
it their holiday tradition. We got families like re generations
(02:30):
deep out there. That's not to say you can't come
on your own and have a killer time, but it
is something that amazingly appeals to all ags. You mentioned
the story, Now, I feel like that's something that appeals
to the adults. And then you've got the kids there
and they love the visual end of things, looking at
all the pyro and the lasers and us up on
the lifts, et cetera. And you've got people like myself,
(02:50):
like rock fans who are just like, hey, this is
a cool rock concert that I'm attending here, Like this
up as a holiday show, but there's a cool rock concert. Well.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
I was with women last year. They were like that
dude was in White Snake, right, And I'm like, and
you did? You did perform with White Snake.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Yeah, I'm still technically a part of the band. I mean,
we're not actively touring at the moment, but not been
with White Sig now for eleven years or so.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
Yeah, they were just like your hair, Oh my gosh,
Like it sounds like I'm coming on to you and
I'm not. But they were like, let that dude's hair
and him playing the guitar. I'm like, that's Joel. They're like,
oh my gosh. And then I want to bring up
Kelsey Watts last year. I know she's on Broadway right now,
but she's sang this version of Oh Come all You Faithful,
this Medley and Holy Cow. There were goosebumps and beauty.
(03:39):
It was just an amazing show. And you say this
year is going to be the biggest and the best,
I can't even imagine.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Yeah, I mean that's definitely Paul O'Neills philosophy was bigger
and better every year, so we always trying to outdo ourselves.
People can definitely expect like updated production. It's gonna be
there's gonna be some gems for obviously, because the front
half is the greatest hits for the diehards, the people
that come every year. There's gonna be some stuff we
haven't played in over a decade. Happening in the second
(04:08):
half that we're excited about. We're also excited the signing
line is back this year. That's something that got shelved
during the COVID years and was a big part of
really I think what made TS So it was after
the signing line or after the evening show. There's an
open signing line, like it's free. You can just go
get everything anything you want to signed by the band,
take a picture of us, say I whatever. And that's
(04:30):
great to have that back. I think for that that
connection with our fan base that's been missing over the
last handful of years. So I'm we all excited about that.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
That is very very cool. People love that. I want
to talk about you for a second. I read that
your parents were classical musicians and you played the cello,
but when you heard Angus Young from ac DC, you
just wanted to rock out.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Yeah, spot on right, Yeah, I mean that was I was.
I was a little sports kid. I wasn't all that
indo when they had me playing cello and piano. I
was just kind of like, eh, I want to be
a pitcher, and I was doing quite well with that
as a younger kid. And then it just seemed to coincide.
All the boys were growing I wasn't. I wasn't as
good as baseball, and I just happened to stumble upon
(05:15):
ACDC back in Black and the early days of the
videos on MTV, seeing Angus young and just going like,
that guy's the coolest guy I've ever seen. I want
to be him. I went to my parents and asked
for a guitar, and I think they probably went great,
he maybe wants to play classical guitar. And the next
thing I knew, I was playing Black Sabbath Rifts and
they're going, oh my gosh, what did we do?
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Wow, that is such a great story. Did you ever
dream it would come to this?
Speaker 2 (05:42):
No, no way. I mean we had no money. I
grew up in up like the Southwest suburbs, very blue
collar area. With yeah, I mean this stuffing is like
not supposed to happen when you come from that area.
For me to have the opportunity to experience all I
have in life, so I mean, I'm really grateful for it.
It's at this point in time, honestly most of it
(06:02):
is like what I guess you could say, playing with
house money because It's kind of like I've already exceeded
expectations for myself in terms of what I've been able
to do with music, and Transceptior Orchestra is obviously a
very huge part of that. In fact, I'd probably say
it's the single best decision I've made in my musical
career is to join Transcepturiy Orchestra. It's really been an
(06:22):
incredible ride. I mean, at this point in time, I've
been with them since twenty ten and what's crazy is
a lot of the people call me still think of
me as a newer guy. You know. It's like, hey man,
I've been here fifteen years because they've been there all
the way since the beginning. So it's just, you know,
the longevity of it. It speaks to the quality of
(06:43):
the product, the idea, how unique it is, and it's
awesome to see it come to fruition. Paul really, Paul
O'Neal wanted this to be a holiday tradition that lived
beyond him, and it's really cool to be a part
of that and watch it come to fruition. I mean,
we're I feel like ingrained in North American holiday culture
at this point in time. Yes, not just the touring.
(07:03):
Obviously we're one of the biggest Billboard poll Star tours
every year, but the amount of the streaming, the airplay,
it's like, it's incredible what it's gotten to and you know,
millions of album sales, and it's just incredible as a
guitar player to be a part of something like that.
You know, you turn on the television and there we
are in a commercial, and we watch a sporting event
(07:25):
and there we are going out to commercial and it's
it's just cool to I guess feel like you're a
part of that, and yeah, something I never could have imagined.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Yeah, you're part of a legacy. You know, it's really
beautiful and all the lives that you've touched over those years,
I mean millions and millions. It's onspiring. It's rock, classical,
holiday music. I mean, you name it, pyrotechnics. It is
the twenty twenty five Trans Siberian Orchestra Winter Tour, the
Ghosts of Christmas Eve, the best of Trans Siberian Orchestra
(07:58):
and more. It's and all news show, biggest and best
TSO tour to date. I'm speaking with Joel Holkstra. You
need to get your tickets go to mohegansun dot com
or you can go to Trans Siberian dot com. Thank
you so much for being here today and sharing your story.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Hey right back at you. Thanks for taking the time out.
We could not do this without you, so really appreciate
you helping us get the word out.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
Appreciate it always
Good morning, thank you for listening to Community Access. I'm
Allison de Murs. My guest this morning is from the
Trans Siberian Orchestra Juel Hoakestra.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Good morning, Hey, good morning. How are you.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
I'm doing great. It's getting to be that time of
year where we all get to go see you in concert.
The twenty twenty five Trans Siberian Orchestra Winter Tour is
taking place at Mohegan Sun on November thirtieth. Let's talk
about it.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Yeah, awesome, thank you so much. So this year, if
you haven't seen TSO before, I suppose I should say,
first there's a story on the front half, and this
year that's the Ghost of Christmas Eve, and that's the
greatest hits or a best of musically speaking, so great
opportunity if you haven't heard us before to come out
and hear the songs that put us on the map
and made us who we are today. And then the
(00:50):
second half of the show is a little bit more
of just like a free willing, you know, rock concert
that focuses on the magnitude of the production. Again, if
you haven't seen TSO, not only is it we like
to think great musically, but incredible. Look at it's an
incredible production. We've got a video wall the width of
the arena with unbelievable imagery on it. Killer laser light
(01:12):
show reminiscent of Pink Floyd, pyrotechnics that are like incredible
moving hydraulic lifts, performers performing out like over the crowd
at times on those, and we run through the audience.
Sometimes I've played directly right in front of you and
you a guitar pick and whatnot, and it snows indoors.
I mean, you name it. It's a visual spectacle for sure.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
It really is a beautiful experience. The talent is amazing,
off the hook, the singing, the instruments. Like you said,
it's this show and you just look around you go
because you're just like, oh my gosh, look at that,
look at listen to this, look at you. It just
blows your mind. And then the story. Last year when
(01:54):
I went, the story was just so beautiful and it
just touches your hearts, very meaningful. So there's so much
I could say about it. It's just amazing, But you
have to see it for yourself.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Yeah, absolutely, I think it's something you have to experience
to really understand it's an unbelievable formula that our founder
Paul o'nehill came upon at this it's truly something unique
because it does appeal to all ages, which is remarkable.
And that's why I say it's a bit of a
family event. I mean, we've got people that have made
it their holiday tradition. We got families like re generations
(02:30):
deep out there. That's not to say you can't come
on your own and have a killer time, but it
is something that amazingly appeals to all ags. You mentioned
the story, Now, I feel like that's something that appeals
to the adults. And then you've got the kids there
and they love the visual end of things, looking at
all the pyro and the lasers and us up on
the lifts, et cetera. And you've got people like myself,
(02:50):
like rock fans who are just like, hey, this is
a cool rock concert that I'm attending here, Like this
up as a holiday show, but there's a cool rock concert. Well.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
I was with women last year. They were like that
dude was in White Snake, right, And I'm like, and
you did? You did perform with White Snake.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Yeah, I'm still technically a part of the band. I mean,
we're not actively touring at the moment, but not been
with White Sig now for eleven years or so.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
Yeah, they were just like your hair, Oh my gosh,
Like it sounds like I'm coming on to you and
I'm not. But they were like, let that dude's hair
and him playing the guitar. I'm like, that's Joel. They're like,
oh my gosh. And then I want to bring up
Kelsey Watts last year. I know she's on Broadway right now,
but she's sang this version of Oh Come all You Faithful,
this Medley and Holy Cow. There were goosebumps and beauty.
(03:39):
It was just an amazing show. And you say this
year is going to be the biggest and the best,
I can't even imagine.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Yeah, I mean that's definitely Paul O'Neills philosophy was bigger
and better every year, so we always trying to outdo ourselves.
People can definitely expect like updated production. It's gonna be
there's gonna be some gems for obviously, because the front
half is the greatest hits for the diehards, the people
that come every year. There's gonna be some stuff we
haven't played in over a decade. Happening in the second
(04:08):
half that we're excited about. We're also excited the signing
line is back this year. That's something that got shelved
during the COVID years and was a big part of
really I think what made TS So it was after
the signing line or after the evening show. There's an
open signing line, like it's free. You can just go
get everything anything you want to signed by the band,
take a picture of us, say I whatever. And that's
(04:30):
great to have that back. I think for that that
connection with our fan base that's been missing over the
last handful of years. So I'm we all excited about that.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
That is very very cool. People love that. I want
to talk about you for a second. I read that
your parents were classical musicians and you played the cello,
but when you heard Angus Young from ac DC, you
just wanted to rock out.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Yeah, spot on right, Yeah, I mean that was I was.
I was a little sports kid. I wasn't all that
indo when they had me playing cello and piano. I
was just kind of like, eh, I want to be
a pitcher, and I was doing quite well with that
as a younger kid. And then it just seemed to coincide.
All the boys were growing I wasn't. I wasn't as
good as baseball, and I just happened to stumble upon
(05:15):
ACDC back in Black and the early days of the
videos on MTV, seeing Angus young and just going like,
that guy's the coolest guy I've ever seen. I want
to be him. I went to my parents and asked
for a guitar, and I think they probably went great,
he maybe wants to play classical guitar. And the next
thing I knew, I was playing Black Sabbath Rifts and
they're going, oh my gosh, what did we do?
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Wow, that is such a great story. Did you ever
dream it would come to this?
Speaker 2 (05:42):
No, no way. I mean we had no money. I
grew up in up like the Southwest suburbs, very blue
collar area. With yeah, I mean this stuffing is like
not supposed to happen when you come from that area.
For me to have the opportunity to experience all I
have in life, so I mean, I'm really grateful for it.
It's at this point in time, honestly most of it
(06:02):
is like what I guess you could say, playing with
house money because It's kind of like I've already exceeded
expectations for myself in terms of what I've been able
to do with music, and Transceptior Orchestra is obviously a
very huge part of that. In fact, I'd probably say
it's the single best decision I've made in my musical
career is to join Transcepturiy Orchestra. It's really been an
(06:22):
incredible ride. I mean, at this point in time, I've
been with them since twenty ten and what's crazy is
a lot of the people call me still think of
me as a newer guy. You know. It's like, hey man,
I've been here fifteen years because they've been there all
the way since the beginning. So it's just, you know,
the longevity of it. It speaks to the quality of
(06:43):
the product, the idea, how unique it is, and it's
awesome to see it come to fruition. Paul really, Paul
O'Neal wanted this to be a holiday tradition that lived
beyond him, and it's really cool to be a part
of that and watch it come to fruition. I mean,
we're I feel like ingrained in North American holiday culture
at this point in time. Yes, not just the touring.
(07:03):
Obviously we're one of the biggest Billboard poll Star tours
every year, but the amount of the streaming, the airplay,
it's like, it's incredible what it's gotten to and you know,
millions of album sales, and it's just incredible as a
guitar player to be a part of something like that.
You know, you turn on the television and there we
are in a commercial, and we watch a sporting event
(07:25):
and there we are going out to commercial and it's
it's just cool to I guess feel like you're a
part of that, and yeah, something I never could have imagined.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Yeah, you're part of a legacy. You know, it's really
beautiful and all the lives that you've touched over those years,
I mean millions and millions. It's onspiring. It's rock, classical,
holiday music. I mean, you name it, pyrotechnics. It is
the twenty twenty five Trans Siberian Orchestra Winter Tour, the
Ghosts of Christmas Eve, the best of Trans Siberian Orchestra
(07:58):
and more. It's and all news show, biggest and best
TSO tour to date. I'm speaking with Joel Holkstra. You
need to get your tickets go to mohegansun dot com
or you can go to Trans Siberian dot com. Thank
you so much for being here today and sharing your story.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Hey right back at you. Thanks for taking the time out.
We could not do this without you, so really appreciate
you helping us get the word out.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
Appreciate it always
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