LCCC’s Holiday Collage concert brings festive sounds to the season

CHEYENNE, Wyoming – Laramie County Community College’s Music Department is set to host the Seventh Annual Holiday Collage concert, a celebration of seasonal music, at 3 p.m. on Dec. 8 at the Cheyenne campus.

This year’s concert, hosted in the Surbrugg/Prentice Auditorium, promises a vibrant mix of performances from the Cheyenne Brass Band, Vocal Cantorei, Collegiate Chorale, Jazz Ensemble, Chamber Orchestra and Wind Ensemble. The event is free and open to the public.

Audiences can look forward to a delightful blend of traditional and contemporary holiday music. The Wind Ensemble will perform highlights such as the first movement of Adam Gorb’s "Yiddish Dances," Victor Herbert’s "March of the Toys" from Babes in Toyland and Norman Dello Joio’s "Caccia for Band." Bethany Smith-Jacobs, LCCC ensemble director and a soprano soloist, will join the ensemble for a setting of Bach-Gounod’s "Ave Maria."

The Jazz Ensemble’s lively set in the second half will include "We Three Kings," an arrangement of "You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" featuring student Ricky Winters on bass trombone, and "Hot Chocolate" from The Polar Express. The Cheyenne Brass Band will follow with "Christmas Fanfare," a unique mashup of Bach’s "Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring" and Beethoven’s "Ode to Joy" in "Songs of Joy," “For Unto Us a Child is Born” in a brand new arrangement by local composer Ron Swim and David Hanson’s arrangement of "Carol of the Bells." The choirs will join the Brass Band for the performance of “For Unto Us a Child is Born” and are encouraging the audience to sing along.

The choirs will bring a rich variety of Latin, French and English holiday songs, including traditional pieces like Handel’s "For Unto Us a Child Is Born" from Messiah and modern works such as Jacob Narverud’s "Hodie" and Mark Burrows’ "Il est né, le divin enfant."

“This concert is a wonderful opportunity to experience the joy and spirit of the holiday season through music,” said Dr. Frank Cook, LCCC director of bands. “Our ensembles have prepared an extraordinary program to celebrate this special time of year with the community.”