Trans-Siberian Orchestra lost its founder in 2017, but Paul O’Neill’s influence continues to guide the Christmas rock juggernaut.

“There really isn’t a decision or anything that happens without asking the question, ‘What would Paul do? It kind of starts there,” said drummer Jeff Plate, who will serve as music director for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra production that comes to the Covelli Centre for two performances on Nov. 22.

Honoring O’Neill’s memories doesn’t mean mimicking the things TSO did when he was alive. O’Neill loved coming up with new ways to visualize a production that melds Christmas sentimentality and traditional carols with thunderous rock.

“Paul was just so eager to try new production and new ideas on every tour,” Plate said. “You know, first of all, he made it a point that we are never going to do the same show two years in a row. We might perform the same story, but the show is going to have a different look. We are going to juggle the setlist a little bit where we can. Paul was one of these people that, once word got out to these production companies, it seemed like we were guinea pigs for a lot of new ideas and a lot of production elements to bring to the stage.

“I think TSO kind of reached a point where we can’t really do any more than we do, but we can certainly do some things differently, and that’s going to be the case again this year. I used to always ask the office, ‘What’s new? What’s the show gonna look like?’ Anymore, I don’t even want to know. I just want to see the stage when it’s finally done. I want to see all the new production elements when they’re in place and ready to go. And every year I stand back and I look at it like, ‘Wow, they’ve done it again.'”

The 2024 tour, which will have two TSO units on the road from mid-November until the end of the year, marks three career milestones. It’s the 20th anniversary of “The Lost Christmas Eve,” the third installment in O’Neill’s holiday trilogy. The band also will draw its 20 millionth concertgoer on this year’s tour. And since $1 from every ticket sold goes to charity, it means TSO will hit $20 million in donations.

“Paul really liked this show, this album,” Plate said. “With the 20th anniversary, Paul’s family, management, everybody just kind of came together and decided this is a good time for us to bring this one back. We’re looking forward to it. A couple of our biggest hits are on this album, ‘Wizards in Winter’ and ‘Christmas Canon Rock,’ so it’s a really strong album musically, and the story is deep. You know, it’s emotional, and in typical Paul O’Neill style, it goes through a lot of emotions and always ends up in a good place.”

Many of TSO’s performers have been with the group for years. Plate’s involvement predates TSO, joining O’Neill in Savatage right before the making of its 1995 album “Dead Winter Dead.” That album included O’Neill’s song “Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12 / 24),” which was the launching point for Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Considering how successful TSO became, it’s easy to forget how unlikely the pairing of heavy metal and songs like “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and “Shchedryk” was nearly 30 years ago.

“I was still the new guy,” Plate said. “I knew well enough just to watch, listen, take notes, learn, and keep my mouth shut unless somebody asked me my opinion. But there was plenty of conversation about this Christmas song, should it be on the Savatage record? You know, Jon Oliva and Paul had many, many conversations about this. There was no denying, this is awesome, this really is a spectacular, powerful song. … But it was Savatage. I guess maybe for the guys who were there for years, Jon Oliva and Johnny Middleton, they had opinions on this, but we all knew that this song really had something to it.

“Now, to ever think that releasing this album would also release this song to the masses and that song would just become an instant holiday hit and open the door for Paul to create TSO, nobody had any clue this was around the corner. Maybe Paul did. Paul was very adamant about the song, and he just believed in it, and it made it to the record. And here we are, 30 years later, and that song is still the driving force behind the TSO show.”

Plate didn’t know how they would determine and acknowledge the 20th millionth concertgoer during the tour, but he’s sure they’ll do something.

The charity receiving that performance’s donation is announced during the concert. The donations from each tour don’t go to any one organization. TSO’s management picks local beneficiaries for a wide range of causes in the cities where the tour plays.

“My wife is a cancer survivor, so whenever it’s a charity concerning cancer and treatment and survivors, that hits home to me a little bit more,” Plate said. “But they’re all just so important, you know. It’s a pretty cool thing, you know, this is something that was very near and dear to Paul. He was a very giving person, and he just felt this was a great way to give back to the communities and cities that we play in. But it also involves everybody in the audience there. They are literally helping somebody in their community, maybe somebody that they know.”

If you go …

WHAT: Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

WHEN: 3 and 8 p.m. Nov. 22.

WHERE: Covelli Centre, 229 E. Front St., Youngstown.

HOW MUCH: Tickets range from $74.99 to $109.99 and are available at the Southwoods Health box office and through Ticketmaster.