UWs Gala Holiday Concerts Set Dec. 14

The University of Wyoming Department of Music will present its annual gala holiday concerts Saturday, Dec. 14, and Sunday, Dec. 15.

“A Real Reel Holiday” will be performed at 3 p.m. Saturday and at 7:30 p.m. Sunday in the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts concert hall.

“The UW basketball schedule changed after we originally announced the times. To avoid parking conflicts, we’ve switched our performance times,” says Michael Griffith, UW director of orchestral activities. “If you already have a ticket and need to switch to the other day, the box office can accommodate you as long as tickets remain available.”

Tickets cost $12 for the public, $8 for senior citizens and $6 for students. Tickets are available at the Performing Arts box office and the Wyoming Union information desk, by calling (307) 766-6666 or going online at www.uwyo.edu/finearts.

This year’s concerts will feature holiday music from films and television. The program includes music from “Home Alone,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and Duke Ellington’s jazz version of “The Nutcracker Suite.”

The performances will feature the Bel Canto Women’s Chorus, Laramie/UW Civic Chorus, UW Singing Statesmen, UW Symphony Orchestra, UW Wind Symphony and members of the UW jazz ensembles. UW Department of Music faculty members Robert Belser, Holly Dalrymple, Michael Griffith and Nicole Lamartine will conduct. Craig Blumenshine, of Wyoming PBS, will be the narrator.

Maureen Boddicker, UW music faculty soprano, will sing “White Christmas.” UW music faculty members Scott Turpen, saxophone soloist, and Andrew Wheelock, drum set soloist, will be featured in the Ellington medley.

Other pieces that will be performed include “Secret Agent Santa,” which uses familiar carols set in the style of spy movie music, and “Blues for Santa,” a jazzy version of “Up on the Housetop” that was used in three movies. The program also will include “Little Saint Nick,” a Beach Boys song that was the soundtrack to a Coca-Cola commercial in the 1980s.

Before the concerts, the UW TubaChristmas ensemble will perform in the lobby. As a postlude, organist Punch Williamson will perform his traditional holiday organ suite for the departing audience.

For more information, call Griffith at (307) 766-3069 or email symph@uwyo.edu.