Music for the Holidays Concerts Sunday, Dec. 2

The 18th annual Music for the Holidays concert will take place at 3 and at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, in the Center for the Performing Arts Concert Hall. 

Ringing in the holiday season in two sessions will be the University Symphony Orchestra, Civic Chorale, Concert Choir, University Women’s Choir, Men’s Glee Club, Belle Voix and narrators.  In addition, a surprise guest from the North Pole is expected to appear. 

The holiday program will include an organ piece by faculty member Carlyn Morenus; Beethoven's “Gloria” from “Missa Solemnis” by the orchestra, Civic Chorale and Concert Choir; Tchaikovsky's “Waltz of the Snowflakes” from “The Nutcracker” by the orchestra and women's choirs; Alfred Reed's Russian Christmas music; Canon by Carl Orff; and an Orff Ensemble performance of “Silent Night.” 

There will be several guest narrators interspersed with the music, which also will include massed choirs and the orchestra performing “I Saw Three Ships;” “For Unto Us” and the “Hallelujah” chorus from Handel's “Messiah;” Leroy Anderson's Christmas Festival; combined men's choirs and guitars performing a villancico; the orchestra performing “Polar Express;” Lucas Richman's Chanukah Festival Overture and Christmas at the Movies by the orchestra; combined choirs singing “I'll Be Home for Christmas;” Leroy Anderson's “Sleigh Ride” and Shaw/Bennett's “Many Moods Suite No. 1” by massed choirs and the orchestra.

Tickets are $10 for the general public, $8 for faculty-staff and $7 for students and senior citizens.  Children 6 and younger are admitted free.  Tickets are available at the CPA box office from noon to 5 p.m. weekdays or by calling (309) 438-2535.

The concert is part of the School of Music Gold Series.