'Holiday Festival with the Arts' Dec. 4-15

Instructor of Music Terry Russell the Jazz Ensemble will perform "Christmas Carols in the Brass Ensemble Tradition" on Monday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m.

The community is invited to celebrate the holiday season along with faculty, staff and students at The University of Virginia’s College at Wise during the “Holiday Festival with the Arts” Dec. 4-15.

Sponsored by the UVa-Wise Department of Visual and Performing Arts, the “Holiday Festival with the Arts” began as a way to showcase the talents of UVa-Wise faculty, staff and students and has proven so successful that new events have been added each year. This year's festival features a variety of musical performances and a student art exhibit, which will be on display in Darden Hall from Dec. 7 through Dec. 15.

All “Holiday Festival with the Arts” events are free and open to the public. A complete schedule of events follows:

Holiday Festival with the Arts 2006

Monday, December 4

“Musical Snapshots Through the Centuries”
UVa-Wise Concert Choir, Chapel of All Faiths, UVa-Wise, 1 p.m.

The UVa-Wise Concert Choir will present several styles of music during two performances. The group will sing selections based on Longfellow poetry and ancient Sanskrit proverbs, along with works by Mendelssohn, Rudder, and Snyder and a Broadway and a holiday medley. An encore performance will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 7 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Big Stone Gap.

The Concert Choir is made up entirely of college students and is under the direction of Michael D. Cox, with accompanist Deata T. Reed.

“Christmas Carols in the Brass Ensemble Tradition”

UVa-Wise Concert Band and Jazz Ensemble, Theatre, UVa-Wise, 7 p.m.

Michael D. Cox will lead the Concert Choir in performing "Musical Snapshots Through the Centuries" on Monday, Dec. 4, at 1 p.m.

This semester's repertoire includes works by Alfred Reed, Claude T. Smith and Rex Mitchell. In addition to these concert band standards, the Concert Band will also be performing seasonal selections. The Jazz Ensemble will perform traditional jazz selections showcasing each member's improvisational skills.

The Concert Band is made up of UVa-Wise students and community members and is directed by Richard Galyean, Director of Bands. The Jazz Ensemble, a student group, is under the direction of Terry Russell, Instructor of Music.

Tuesday, December 5

“A Concert of Christmas Music”
UVa-Wise Chamber Choir, Trinity United Methodist Church, Big Stone Gap, 7 p.m.

The ambitious program includes the Christmas choruses of Handel's Messiah as well as strikingly beautiful contemporary settings of traditional Christmas poems and texts by Moten Lauridsen, Robert Concery, John Gardner, and Bob Chilcott. The Chamber Choir is comprised of students and community members including a number of UVa-Wise faculty and staff and is noted for its superb performances of challenging repertoire.

The UVa-Wise Chamber Choir is under the direction of David Volk, Assistant Professor of Music, and Associate Conductor Michael Cox. Kathy Stewart is the accompanist for the group.

Director of Bands Richard Galyean will lead the Concert Band in performing "Christmas Carols in the Brass Ensemble Tradition" on Monday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m.

An encore performance will be held at 7 p.m. on Dec. 12 at Wise Baptist Church.

Wednesday, December 6

A holiday performance by the Recorder Ensemble and Wise Guys, Chapel of All Faiths, UVa-Wise, 7 p.m.

The Recorder Ensemble is under the direction of Ross Grable. The Wise Guys are under the director of Richard Galyean, Director of Bands.

Thursday, December 7

Senior Seminar Art Students’ Presentation, Chapel of All Faiths, UVa-Wise, 6:30 p.m.

Art majors Greta Clevenger, Julie Birchfield, Barbara Church, Cathleen Russ, Tiger Williams, and Lindsay Perkins will discuss their work. A reception will follow. Selected works by art seminar students will be on exhibit in the Science Center atrium Dec. 4-8.

The Student Art Exhibit, featuring a variety of studio works from UVa-Wise art classes, will be on display in Darden Hall through Dec. 15.

CANCELLED - "Musical Snapshots Through the Centuries”
Concert Choir, Trinity United Methodist Church, Wise, 7 p.m. (PERFORMANCE CANCELLED)

Assistant Professor of Music David Volk will direct the UVa-Wise Chamber Choir in performing "A Concert of Christmas Music" on Tuesday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m.

Sunday, December 10

“Retrospective,” a dance performance by Dance 103 and Dance 105 students, Theatre, UVa-Wise, 8 p.m. The students are under the direction of Gina Lester, Instructor of Dance.

Tuesday, December 12

“A Concert of Christmas Music”
UVa-Wise Chamber Choir, Wise Baptist Church, Wise, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, December 13

“Christmas Arrangements for Brass”
Wise Guys, Wise County Public Library, Wise, 3:30 p.m.; Christ Episcopal Church, Norton, 7 p.m.

Comprised of faculty, students, and community members, the Wise Guys will perform traditional holiday favorites during two appearances on Dec. 13.

For more information about “Holiday Festival with the Arts” events, contact the Office of College Relations at 276-328-0130.

Posted November 28, 2006