This year’s Annual Holiday Gala Concert at Northwestern Oklahoma State University will have a new twist. Student Government Association (SGA) members will be assisting the University’s Fine Arts Department with a “Pack-the-Theatre” event Saturday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m. in Herod Hall auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.
SGA members will be handing out free t-shirts to the first 50 Northwestern students with current student ID’s beginning at 6 p.m. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for the concert.
Dr. Janet Cunningham, university president, will officially light the university Christmas tree on the Herod Hall lawn at the Bell Tower immediately following the concert. SGA members will be serving hot chocolate and hot apple cider during the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony.
The University Singers and University Chorale will present holiday favorites led by Karsten Longhurst, director of choral music. The University Singers will perform “This little Babe,” “Carol of the Bells” and “Silent Night.” The University Chorale will perform four songs including “Angels from the Realms of Glory” and “Noel.”
The choirs are accompanied by Susan Duell, adjunct instructor of music, and Lawana Newell, director of vocal studies.
Numerous students will be featured soloists including Naice Gugelmeyer, Hardtner, Kansas, senior; Chance Mayhall, Ponca City junior; Paxton Mayers, Ponca City freshman; Aaron Pierce, Alva sophomore; and Sadik Malik, Accra, Ghana, Africa, senior.
The Northwestern jazz ensemble and symphony band led by Dr. Marc Decker, director of instrumental music and music education, will then take the stage. The jazz ensemble will perform “Three Guys,” “The First Noel” and “Feliz Navidad.”
The symphony band will perform “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Fanfare for Christmas,” directed by guest conductor Arthur Bohlmann, Hooker graduate student.
To end the concert the band and choirs will combine to perform “Salvation is Created” and “Holiday Favorites.”
For more information about the Holiday Gala or the Northwestern music program contact Longhurst at (580) 327- 8692 or krlonghurst@nwosu.edu or Decker at (580) 327-8189 or mddecker@nwosu.edu.