SU Hosts Winter Music Festival December 5-13

SALISBURY, MD---As Salisbury University commemorates its 90th year, its Music, Theatre and Dance Department celebrates decades of musical collaboration with the community during its annual Winter Music Festival, “The Sounds of Salisbury: A Family Gathering.”

Performances are December 5-13. All events begin at 7:30 p.m. in Holloway Hall Auditorium, unless otherwise noted.

All of the University’s musical ensembles include community members, from a talented children’s choir to a former member of the Baltimore Symphony. SU music students not only learn from distinguished guest artists who often conduct master classes, but from the dedication and commitment of local performers. This musical family feel adds to the warmth and quality of the performances.

The Salisbury Chorale, University Chorale and Madrigal Choir, directed by Dr. William Folger, department co-chair, are accompanied by faculty and students on holiday brass, organ and percussion, inaugurating the series with a concert of holiday and secular music. The Saturday, December 5, program features selections including holiday carols and Hodie by Z. Randall Stroope. Admission is $12; $9 for seniors age 62 and over, students and SU alumni.

The Salisbury Pops, directed by Lee Knier, continues the series on Tuesday, December 8. The holiday-themed program includes Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” Jose Feliciano’s “Feliz Navidad,” an Elvis Presley-like rendition of “Blue Christmas” and Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride,” culminating with a visit from Santa Claus. Admission is free.

SU’s Musical Theatre Ensemble hosts its annual production Thursday-Sunday, December 10-13. Dr. Darrell Mullins of the Communication Arts Department directs The 25th Annual Putman County Spelling Bee from Thursday-Sunday, December 10-13, in the Black Box Theatre of Fulton Hall, with musical direction by Folger. Curtain is 8 p.m., 2 p.m. Sunday.

Conceived by Rebecca Feldman, with music and lyrics by William Finn, book by Rachel Sheinkin and additional material by Jay Reiss, the Tony Award-winning musical comedy tells the story of six quirky middle school students participating in a spelling bee run by three equally quirky adults. Admission is $12; $9 for seniors age 62 and over, students and SU alumni. The show is recommended for mature audiences.

The SU Jazz Ensemble, directed by Jerry Tabor, performs on Thursday, December 10. Selections from the ensemble’s two combos include “Jodi,” as performed by T.S. Monk and his band; Out of the Blue’s “Cherry Pickin’” and a duo of songs by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers: “Ms. B.C.” and “Moanin’.” Admission is free.

The series culminates as the Salisbury Symphony Orchestra at SU (SSO) continues its 30th anniversary season with a “Home for the Holidays” concert on Saturday, December 12. Directed by Dr. Jeffrey Schoyen, the performance features the return of guest tenor Dominic Armstrong.

Since his last concert with the SSO, in 2012, Armstrong has performed with some of the most well-regarded orchestras in the U.S., including the Boston Symphony and New York Philharmonic.

The program includes selections from Tchaikivsky’s Swan Lake Suite and Ippolitov’s Caucasian Sketches, Op. 10, as well as “Winter” from Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, Massenet’s “Porquoi Me Reveiller,” Wagner’s “Winterstürme” and Puccini’s “Recondita Armonia.”

Admission is $25, $20 for seniors age 60 and over, and $5 for all students. Advance tickets are available at www.SalisburySymphonyOrchestra.org and at the Information Desk of the Guerrieri University Center.

The public is invited to all Winter Music Festival performances. For more information call 410-543-6385 or visit the SU website at www.salisbury.edu.