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Otero College Community Choir Presents Free Christmas Concert Featuring International Carols on Dec. 5
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Description: Enjoy a free festive concert as the Otero College Community Choir performs international carols, Broadway hits, and holiday favorites on Dec. 5 at the Ed Stafford Theater.
Otero College Community Choir Presents Free Christmas Concert Featuring International Carols on Dec. 5
The Otero College Community Choir will present a treasure-trove of Christmas carols, a wealth of familiar and unfamiliar songs celebrating the Season. The carols come from Western and Eastern Europe as well as the British Isles. Admission is free. Three of Mark Haye’s “International Carol Suites” will surely get the concert-goers in the mood for Christmas! The songs are presented in a fresh, appealing way that recognizes the need to avoid the tiresome over-playing of carols that are blared through store speakers and lead to a jaded feeling by Christmas Day.
The musical program, presented on Friday, December 5th, at 7:00 pm in the Ed Stafford Theater on the Otero College campus, will include other songs written in a variety of styles: Broadway, contemporary, and rock ‘n’ roll. “Twas the Night Before Christmas” is a fun and colorful setting of Clement Clark Moore’s popular poem about Santa, his belly like a bowl full of jelly, and the children asleep in their beds as sugar plum fairies dance in their heads. “All That Holiday Stuff”, a novelty song arranged in full Broadway-style with Rockettes’ kick-line music included, is balanced by Eric Whitacre’s “Glow”, a contrasting spiritual meditation on the beauty of falling snow. “North Pole Rock and Roll” is just a fun, rocking take on the Holiday where the arranger invites us to “dig that crazy Santa Claus."
Pianist Mary Belew accompanies the choir expertly and plays a piano duet arranged from the Nutcracker ballet with Dean Rees, the Otero College Choir director. Jessica Bay, violinist, plays a spectacular arrangement of “Carol of the Bells/God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” that reminds Mr. Rees of something created by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. A female quartet consisting of Terry Miller, Kate Pruyn, Maranatha Hoyt, and Kaydence Salazar will sing “Silent Night.” Jordan Borrego, drummer, and Zach Mata, bass, travel from Pueblo to add rhythmic drive and richness to the songs. They will play a jazz arrangement of “Go Tell It On the Mountain” with Mr. Rees on the piano.
Mr. Rees and the Otero College Community Choir invite one and all to kick off their holiday season with a beautiful and fun seasonal concert.
Otero College is Located at 1802 Colorado Ave. La Junta, CO 81050
