‘Tis the season for music

    There are many things that can get people in the holiday mood, but none are as potent as the moods that are created by holiday music.                   
      From carols, to big band swings and even classical repertoires fit for a king, GCSU’s Department of Music is making sure that everyone gets a share of the holiday cheer.
    So for students looking for a little break from final exam blues, the sounds of the season should perk the ears and the spirit back up.

A swinging holiday

    The holiday season is in full swing as the uber popular Jazz Band takes the stage with Christmas favorites in big-band swing style that will sure please the crowd of community fans from GCSU and Milledgeville alike. The Jazz band will be performing three fun-filled nights of the best music this season has to offer. The GCSU performances will be on Nov. 29 and 30 at 8 p.m. in Russell Auditorium. The Jazz band will also perform at the Cox Capital Theatre in downtown Macon on Saturday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m.
    The holiday concert was a first for the Jazz Band last year. The one night show was so popular and people had to be turned away.
    “It was a huge success last year and we had a really great time performing,”  said Dr. Todd Shiver, professor of music and director of bands at GCSU. “We had to do it again.”
    The “swinging” concert will feature beloved Christmas songs such as “Santa Baby,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Let It Snow,” and “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm.”
    The concert will feature talented instrumentalists and vocalists.  Dr. Bob Wilson, a history professor and university historian, will emcee the performances and add a festive and entertaining touch.
    “He (Wilson) adds some comedy and entertainment,” Shiver said. “It’s wonderful to have someone so passionate about jazz talk about it and make the crowd laugh.”
    Jazz members, like Joel Graham, a sophomore political science major who plays the trumpet, thinks that holiday concerts like these will quickly become a new tradition.
    “It was going to be a one-time thing but the feedback was so great, we couldn’t possibly disappoint the crowd,” Graham said. “It’s taking us to incredible venues like the one and  Macon and it’s a real treat for everyone because the audience enjoys our music and we enjoy spreading the cheer around.”
    Tickets will sell out fast and concert-goers are encouraged to get their tickets in advance.

Handel’s Messiah
   
    Fans of classical music styles have something to talk about this season. Angelic voices will soar and the harmonious symphony with the orchestra will thrill the audiences as GCSU’s University Chorus, prepared by Dr. Jennifer Flory, will be collaborating musical prowess with GCSU’s String Ensemble to perform Frederic Handel’s timeless masterpiece Messiah. The performance is on Sunday, Dec. 2 at 5 p.m., in the Goldstein Auditorium of Georgia Military College.         Various members of the community will also be performing with the GCSU choir and the orchestra which includes members of First United Methodist Church, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, The First Presbyterian Church and citizens of Milledgeville.
    Handel’s Messiah is one of the most popular choral literature works.
    Singers and instrumentalist alike have prepared for months under the careful directions of Flory and Daniel Kaplunas, director of string ensembles at GCSU who is also the conductor of the program.
    Blair Janzen, a senior music major, is among the numerous students that have worked for months to perform the Advent and Easter portions of Messiah.
    “It’s incredible to hear how far and how much we’ve accomplished,” Janzen said. “It’s a lot of work since Messiah is pretty long, but I think the community won’t be disappointed when they hear what we have to offer.”
    Messiah is one of the most performed choral literatures and has become a fixture in ushering in the Holiday and Easter spirits since it was performed from King George II’s reign to present day performances. Some notable pieces from Messiah include “For Unto Us A Child Is Born,” “Glory to God” and the famous “Hallelujah” chorus.
    Various arias and solos will also be performed ranging from student soloist such as Janzen, to seasoned veterans like Flory among many others.
    The renowned “Hallelujah” chorus was said to move King George II so much that he stood up unexpectedly during the performance. Since then, it has been tradition to stand during the performance of “Hallelujah” in some performances.
    “We hope to evoke the same sentiments as well,” Flory said. “Everyone worked really hard, and I think they will amaze the audience.”
    General admission for this concert is $6 and $3 for GCSU students with valid ID.

Max Noah Singers Tour

    GCSU’s auditioned choral ensemble, Max Noah Singers, will be touring several cities in December as part of their annual tour. Under the direction of Dr. Jennifer Flory, the small ensemble will spread holiday cheer in North Carolina, South Carolina and back home in Georgia. They will be touring from Dec. 11 to 15 and will find them back home for a homecoming concert in Milledgeville on the 15 at the First Presbyterian Church in Milledgeville. The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. It is open and free to the public, although free will donations will be taken to off-set the tour cost.
    The music repertoire will include varying styles from oratorio boasting works from Handel and Bach to more traditional carols such as “The First Noel,” “Carol of the Bells,” and a special arrangement of “Silent Night” that has become a Christmas choral tradition among the ensembles.
    “It’s wonderful that we get to represent the school and share our music,” said Mary-Katherine Schaap, a sophomore music major and Max Noah Singer member. “This helps us recruit and showcase the talent that GCSU has to offer.”

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Nov 30 2007. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry