Note: Listen to the concert through this .
When the School of Music presents the annual Fredonia Holiday Choral Concert, the power of music will take center stage.
The event is slated for Saturday, Dec. 7, at 8 p.m., in King Concert Hall.
鈥淭he holidays are a time we can come together and reconnect with those special memories from the past,鈥 noted Dr. Vernon Huff. 鈥淭he power of music is that it helps us reconnect with those feelings.鈥
It is the fourth year the holiday choral concert has been presented and is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required.
Once again, the event will be recorded for broadcast on local PBS station WNED. Check the station鈥檚 listings for the dates and times. The concert will also be shared with PBS North America and PBS+. The local PBS broadcasts are Tuesday, Dec. 24 at 8 p.m., and Thursday, Dec. 26, at 2 a.m.
Presented in conjunction with the School of Music鈥檚 Sound Recording Technology program, the concert will be and posted to the School of Music YouTube channel.
The concert will feature the Chamber Choir and the College Choir under the direction of Dr. Huff and the Camerata under the direction of Brent Weber. There will also be select student vocal soloists. All told, 12 works will be performed during the concert, including three with the choirs combined.
鈥淭his music is from our common heritage,鈥 Huff said. 鈥淢any of us grew up singing these tunes.鈥
The repertoire will include traditional favorites 鈥淎way in a Manger,鈥 鈥淕o Tell It on the Mountain,鈥 and 鈥淥 Come, O Come, Emmanuel.鈥
Huff said the concert will also include newer works such as 鈥淟o how a rose e鈥檈r blooming,鈥 arranged by English composer and conductor Dr. John Rutter. The piece will feature School of Music faculty member Dr. Sarah Hamilton as a soloist on oboe.
Student soloists will include Hannah Rich of Webster, NY; Allison Romain of Windsor, NY; and Ashley Zielezinski of Depew, NY, on "Tundra" by Ola Gjeilo. Also, Reganae Walters of Rochester, NY, in "Here's A Pretty Little Baby" arr. by Andr茅 Thomas; Layla Hollis of Franklin, PA, in "Away in a Manger" arr. Derric Johnson; and Zoe Nipe of Brighton, NY, and Mia O'Malley of Peekskill, NY, in "The Christmas Song" arr. Kirby Shaw.
The Fredonia Holiday Choral Concert is made possible in part by the Kay Hardesty Logan Foundation of Arlington, VA, with funding administered through the Fredonia College Foundation.
鈥淭he Kay Hardesty Logan Foundation has been so supportive of us,鈥 Huff noted.
