Thanksgiving has barely come and gone, but the push toward Christmas began months ago. Now, holiday concerts are on the immediate horizon, and Santa is everywhere.
Durango’s own splendid Santa, performed with jolly good cheer by Fort Lewis College’s man-of-all-trades Steve Blaylock, will show up at several holiday events. Two are scheduled for the first full weekend in December.
At 7 p.m. Dec. 6, the FLC Performing Arts Department will present “Holiday on the Hill.” Then, at 3 p.m. Dec. 8, the Durango Choral Society will present its annual family Christmas Concert. Both will take place in the Community Concert Hall at FLC. Both include a variety of musical offerings. Both will feature Santa. As he is a singer, he will be contributing to the music as well as available for family portraits. You can’t miss him.
If you go
WHAT: “Holiday on the Hill,” The Fort Lewis College Performing Arts Department.
WHEN: 7 p.m. Dec. 6.
WHERE: Community Concert Hall at FLC, 1000 Rim Drive.
TICKETS: $10.
MORE INFORMATION: Visit www.fortlewis.edu/music, www.durangoconcerts.com or call 247-7657.
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WHAT: Family Christmas Concert, Durango Choral Society, Rhonda Muckerman, conductor.
WHEN: 3 p.m. Dec. 8.
WHERE: Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College, 1000 Rim Drive.
TICKETS: $25 adults, $5 students, available through www.durangochoralsociety.org, www.durangoconcerts.com or at the door.
MORE INFORMATION: Visit www.durangochoralsociety.org.
In the lobby before the show on Dec. 6, the FLC Brazz Quintet will play holiday fare. Then various FLC ensembles will take the stage beginning with the Jazz Band followed by the Chamber Choir singing a dreamy version of “White Christmas.” The FLC Orchestra will perform the first of two sleigh rides before intermission. The Symphonic Band will stream through four holiday songs beginning with “Banana Boat,” or the famous “Day – O,” featuring the first performance by the Musical Theatre contingent, led by newly minted FLC professor Teri Hansen. To close the program, all ensembles will unite in two contrasting works: Handel’s “Glory to God,” from “The Messiah,” and the second sleigh ride of the evening by Leroy Anderson – a favorite of the Symphonic Band since the smiling days of the late Mark Walters.
At 3 p.m. Dec. 8 in the Concert Hall, a different but no less festive program will be presented by the Choral Society.
“It’s a wonderfully diverse program,” said Rhonda Muckerman. “It’s full of multicultural, classical and traditional holiday pieces. And we’re opening with music by pianist Adam Swanson, and, of course, Santa Claus.”
To open the program and shake the rafters, all the DCS choirs will combine in singing “Joy to the World.” The Choral Society will continue with “Noel,” introduced by a quartet: Atlee Beam, Ted Carr, Ash Owecke and Blaylock. And what may be the most moving musical moment in the entire program, the singers will present “O Magnum Mysterium.”
The Children’s Choir, conducted by Amy Barrett, will follow with four songs ending with “Lights of Hanukkah.” And the Women’s Choir will present five works, including “Little Drummer Boy,” and ending with “The Kalanta,” sung with the Youth Choir. The Youth Choir will continue with three works joining the full Choral Society for Anderson’s jaunty “Sleigh Ride.”
A musical sendoff, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” will transition into all the choirs joining in a Christmas medley “Masa Fukuda.”
Muckerman urges parents to bring cameras and cellphones as Santa will be available for family photos after the concert.
Judith Reynolds is an arts journalist and member of the American Theatre Critics Association.
