It is Christmas with a twist — a Trans-Siberian twist, that is.

On Sunday, “A Trans-Siberian Christmas” will be presented by the Austin Symphony Orchestra, with special guest, the Galactic Cowboy Orchestra. The concert begins at 2 p.m. at Knowlton Auditorium.

Alternative rock ensemble, the Galactic Cowboy Orchestra, will join the Austin Symphony Orchestra for an afternoon filled with energy and the dynamic performance of Christmas music in the style of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Also featured will be the Austin Symphony Orchestra Chorus, under the direction of Sonia Larson.

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra music was composed in the late 1990s by Paul O’Neil and Robert Kinkel, who took classical pieces and added new songs and arrangements. Perhaps one of the more moving pieces is “Sarajevo 12/24” which pays tribute to Vedran Smailovic, known as the “Cellist of Sarajevo” who, during the Bosnian War, played music in ruined buildings, and at funerals despite the threat of snipers. The GCO will join the orchestra in the selection.

The GCO consists of John Wright on bass, Dean Neale on guitar, Mark O’ Day on drums and Blooming Prarie native Lisi Wright, who plays violin. Wright, a musician from the age of 5, took violin lessons from retired ASO musician Maryln Schoroder, and ASO concert mistress, Sue Radloff. Wright also played with the Austin orchestra when she was in high school.

Providing another genre to the afternoon is the chorus, who will sing, “Gloria,” by Darius Milhaud. The 50-member chorus will be joined by with three soloists, Morgan Dickman, Mollie Mickelson and Pam Koser. Dickman and Koser are teachers with Austin Public Schools.