28 Nov 2012
Trent Johnson/Staff Writer
The UNT music department will throw down the concert gauntlet with four groups and a soloist as they perform their first ever holiday-themed event.
The UNT Holiday Concert will take place at 8 p.m. this Friday in the Winspear Hall at the Murchison Performing Arts Center.
The concert will feature the UNT A Cappella Choir, University Singers, Concert Choir, Collegium Singers and faculty soloist Carol Wilson.
The group is set to perform classics such as “O Holy Night” and “O Come All Ye Faithful,” along with numerous others.
The idea for a holiday themed event began to simmer about 18 months ago, said Richard Sparks, Chamber Choir and Collegium Singers conductor.
Finally, on the doorstep of the performance, Sparks feels the collaboration of singers will only add to the university’s holiday spirit.
“Our schedule is so crowded, and we usually never go into pre-finals week,” Sparks said. “We had the opportunity to do this program and thought it would be fun to bring it to the university community, especially with the chance to hear four university choirs.”
As student performers prepare for the grind of finals week, Sparks said that the timing has been tough but is nothing new to these students.
“It’s challenging. One of the choirs had a concert last night, another group has a concert tonight, so yeah, it’s busy and challenging,” Sparks said. “That’s the way a musician’s life is sometimes, it’s what we all do.”
Wilson, soloist and vocal studies professor, will perform a special rendition of “O Holy Night” and is excited to perform in front of her students and peers.
“I always love to [perform],” Wilson said. “Every performance is fun to do, particularly this one, and it’s a song that everyone knows. But because we’re in an academic environment, I decided to do it in French, it’s original language.”
As the semester comes to a close, Wilson said the concert is a good way of representing the department before everyone leaves for the break.
“It’s sort of a representation of our whole department, with all singers from all the different areas of music,” Wilson said. “It’s a time for people to come together before we go away. It’s a great way to celebrate Christmas on campus.”
Along with Wilson, faculty pianist and vocal studies professor Elvia Puccinelli will perform during “O Holy Night.” Puccinelli said that even though the concert is the first of its kind, people would have a chance to listen to familiar music, which serves as a great start for the holidays.
“I think the whole program is familiar and will be a nice break from studying,” Puccinelli said. “I think it’s a great kickoff to the holiday season.”
Tickets for the concert are available at the price of $10 for adults, $8 for senior citizens, non-UNT students, children, staff and free for UNT students with their ID. The concert will be streamed live at recording.music.unt.edu/live.
1 Comment
UNT does not have a “music department.” It has a world-class College of Music, one of the few in the United States!