A Boulder holiday tradition returns to Macky Auditorium for its 37th year this weekend. The College of Music Holiday Festival is Dec. 4-6.
A Boulder holiday tradition returns to Macky Auditorium for its 37th year this weekend. The College of Music听puts on four performances Friday through Sunday and, for many, officially ushers in the holiday season.
Artistic Director听Gregory Gentry听says the Holiday Festival also represents the one time every year when faculty and students from across departments perform together in the same concert. This year features performances by the Women鈥檚 Chorus and voice faculty soloists; and, of course, the collaboration between the Holiday Festival Orchestra and Chorus.
But Gentry says there鈥檒l be something for everyone. 鈥淭his year we鈥檒l hear performances by the jazz students and faculty,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he combo and听John Gunther听are playing two pieces, including a听piece, and that鈥檚 very exciting.鈥�
And even if you attend every year, Gentry says you should make time between shopping and decorating to attend a performance at Macky.
鈥淓very year, we put a new twist on the program, and this year we鈥檒l feature a men鈥檚 acapella quartet. Acapella music is very popular right now, so that should be a great addition,鈥� says Gentry. 鈥淚t鈥檚 truly a showcase of the outstanding student and faculty performers we have here, and it鈥檚 a magical experience.鈥� The concert will also feature music from popular films 鈥淗ome Alone鈥� and 鈥淔rozen.鈥�
The program includes traditional Christmas carols and the audience will be invited to join in during the 鈥淗allelujah鈥� chorus from Handel鈥檚 鈥淢essiah,鈥� but Gentry says the Holiday Festival isn鈥檛 just a celebration of the Christmas season. 鈥淲e include many different holiday traditions, whether it be Hanukkah, Christmas or the Solstice.鈥� 听
An hour before the performances begin on stage, the audience will be serenaded by carolers in the lobby and the brass and percussion ensembles in the opera boxes.
Gentry says what makes the Holiday Festival special is that it鈥檚 the beginning of the holiday season for many in the Boulder area. 鈥淎 lot of people have told me that it鈥檚 how they officially kick off the days ahead. It鈥檚 an uplifting start to the holidays and it鈥檚 such a privilege to be in a position to bring that to people.鈥�
2015 College of Music Holiday Festival
All performances at Macky Auditorium, and tickets are $15 and up. Holiday Festival revenues benefit the CU Music Scholarship Fund; no discounts are available for these performances.
While the Dec. 5 and Dec. 6 matinee performances are sold out, tickets remain for the following performances:
Friday, Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m.
