Grove City College celebrates the “most wonderful time of the year” next week with a series of Christmas showcases from the Department of Music.
Student musicians take the stage to spread Christmas cheer with performances on campus that are free and open to the public, including:
- Sounds of the Season Christmas Choral Concert – 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2 in Harbison Chapel on campus. The Concert Choir, Touring Choir and Chamber Singers present works including Italian Baroque composer Giovanni Battista Pergolesi’s “Magnificat,” British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams’ “Fantasia on Christmas Carols,” and beloved carols such as “The Holly and the Ivy” and “O Come, All Ye Faithful.” The choirs will be accompanied by College Organist Dr. Bradley Fitch and student harpist Hannah Miner ’20. All three choirs are directed by Dr. Katherine Mueller, assistant professor of Music and director of Choral Activities.
- Carnegie Christmas Concerts – 12:15 p.m. daily Monday, Dec. 3 through Friday, Dec. 7 in Carnegie Alumni Center. These noontime concerts were established in the early 1990s as a Christmas card to the campus and community, featuring holiday treats and great music. Hosted by the Advancement office, the series features student talent selected by the music department faculty and includes: vocal students on Monday; a woodwind trio and GCC Singers on Tuesday; flute, trombone and trumpet choirs on Wednesday; Gallery Brass and a jazz combo on Thursday; and a string quartet and Touring Choir on Friday.
- Grove City College Singers – 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7 in Arnold Recital Hall of the Pew Fine Arts Center on campus. The 27-member women’s choir sings Christmas selections including “Gaelic Alleluia,” “Jingle Bells,” “O Come All Ye Faithful” and “Remembering Decembers.” Accompanists for the concert are Caleb Hixon ’21 and Eva Tan ’22. The ensemble is directed by Associate Professor of Music Dr. Stacy Paparone ’93.
- Jazz Ensemble and Stage Band – 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7 in Ketler Auditorium of the Pew Fine Arts Center on campus. The concert features a mix of classic and contemporary jazz along with vocal highlights. The show includes a special appearance by Cedric Lewis, guest lecturer in Entrepreneurship, singing an original arrangement of “What Child Is This?” by Dr. Joseph Hasper, associate professor of Music and director of Jazz Ensembles. The concert begins with the Stage Band directed by Matt Hickly ’20 and including a guest vocal performance by Corey Kerstetter ’19. The second half of the concert features the GCC Jazz Ensemble directed by Megan McGinnis ’19. In addition to instrumental numbers covering the gamut of jazz styles, vocalists Kirsten Ward ’19 and Kerstetter join the band in a Christmas duet.