PULLMAN — The WSU School of Music will present a Holiday Concert at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, in Bryan Hall Theatre. This matinee concert will feature the Madrigal Singers, University Singers, Concert Choir, VoJazz, and Symphony Orchestra in celebration of the holiday season.
Madrigal Singers, performing in festive costumes reminiscent of the Renaissance, will begin the concert with a selection of carols and favorite melodies from around the world. This vocal chamber ensemble, under the direction of Lori Wiest, will delight children of all ages as they present the beauty of Cesar Carrillo’s “O Magnum Mysterium”, “Es ist ein Ros’ Entsprungen” arranged by Michael Praetorius, and Holst’s “In the Bleak Midwinter”, the lyric and lilting “My Dancing Day” arranged by Alice Parker and Robert Shaw, and the unexpected rhythmic arrangement of “Deck the Halls in 7/8”.
The University Singers, under the direction of Kyle Chandler, will present a cappella and instrumental accompanied sacred and secular choral music with roots in Renaissance, American Folk and Ukrainian Folk music blended with contemporary adaptations. Featured composers/arrangers and lyricists are Croo, Hassler, Hayes & Newton, and Leontovich & Wilhousky.
Concert Choir, conducted by Lori Wiest, will feature a new composition by WSU music composition major Zach Peterson, arrangements of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”, “The Christmas Song” by Mel Torme, and “I Saw Three Ships” as well as offering a toast for the new year composed by Rossini.
VoJazz will be performing two original arrangements by director Kathleen Hollingsworth. Reminiscent of “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” the group will sing “Christmas Time is Here” with an interesting twist. They are also singing an arrangement of the SalSoul Orchestra’s “Merry Christmas All,” while being joined by the rhythm section.
Under the direction of Nick Wallin, the Symphony Orchestra will perform a splashy medley of carols, “A Canadian Brass Christmas”, the festive second movement of Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 5 in D Minor, and excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker featuring various dances from this monumental, seasonal work including the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Russian Dance.
A holiday bake sale, prepared by the WSU Concert Choir, will take place during intermission and following the concert. Sales proceeds will help members of the Concert Choir travel to New York City, where they will be performing June 28, 2009 at the Avery Fisher Hall in a concert directed by Eric Whitacre. Whitacre, who personally invited the choir to perform, was the WSU American Choral Music Festival and Festival of Contemporary Art Music composer in residence in February 2008.
Tickets for the event are available at the door on the day of the concert. General admission tickets are $10, seniors and students age 13 and above are $5, and children 12 and under are admitted free. Free admission is also available to season ticketholders of the WSU Faculty Artist Series. All proceeds go to the ensembles for scholarships, music purchases and touring costs.
