CHEYENNE, Wyo. — One of the best parts about this time of year is all of the music that accompanies the Christmas season. And now, for the seventh year in a row, Laramie County Community College wants to contribute to the soundtrack of the season with its annual Holiday Collage Concert.
This “celebration of seasonal music” is happening on Sunday, Dec. 8, beginning at 3 p.m. on the Cheyenne campus.
“This year’s concert, hosted in the Surbrugg/Prentice Auditorium, promises a vibrant mix of performances from the Cheyenne Brass Band, Vocal Cantorei, Collegiate Chorale, Jazz Ensemble, Chamber Orchestra and Wind Ensemble,” a release from LCCC states.
This collection of musicians will be performing a variety of songs, both traditional and contemporary.
The Wind Ensemble will perform pieces such as the first movement of Adam Gorb’s “Yiddish Dances,” Victor Herbert’s “March of the Toys” from “Babes in Toyland,” and Norman Dello Joio’s “Caccia for Band.”
Bethany Smith-Jacobs, the LCCC Ensemble director and a soprano soloist, is joining the ensemble to perform Bach-Gounod’s “Ave Maria.”
Following that, the Jazz Ensemble will bring things back to the modern era, performing songs such as “We Three Kings,” an arrangement of “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” — featuring LCCC student Ricky Winters on brass trombone — and “Hot Chocolate” from “The Polar Express.”
The Cheyenne Brass Band will play next, performing “Christmas Fanfare,” a mashup of Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” and Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” from Songs of Joy; “For Unto Us a Child is Born” in a brand-new arrangement by local composer Ron Swim; and David Hanson’s arrangement of “Carol of the Bells.” During “For Unto Us a Child is Born,” the choirs will accompany the brass band and the audience is encouraged to sing along.
The choirs will perform a variety of Latin, French and English holiday songs including the aforementioned “For Unto Us a Child is Born” from Handel’s “Messiah” as well as modern pieces like Jacob Narverud’s “Hodie” and Mark Burrows’ “Il est né, le divin enfant.”
The concert is free and open to the public. The LCCC music ensembles are set to perform at 3 p.m. in the Surbrugg/Prentice Auditorium.
“This concert is a wonderful opportunity to experience the joy and spirit of the holiday season through music,” said Dr. Frank Cook, LCCC director of bands. “Our ensembles have prepared an extraordinary program to celebrate this special time of year with the community.”
