(Leavenworth, Kan.)—Get into the holiday spirit with a pair of musical offerings by the University of Saint Mary department of fine arts-music—the annual USM Community Band Christmas Concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, in Saint Joseph Dining Hall, and the traditional, elegant Christmas Choral Vespers at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, in Annunciation Chapel.
Both events are free and open to the public and will be held on USM’s Leavenworth campus, 4100 South 4th Street.
The Christmas Choral Vespers—a USM tradition dating back more than 30 years—will feature the University Concert Chorale, under the direction of Dr. William Krusemark, chair of USM’s fine arts department, and the Bells of Saint Mary Handbell Choir and String Ensemble. The program will include a varied selection of international Christmas carols sung in English, Latin, German, and French, accompanied by guest harpist Tabitha Reist-Steine and percussionist Sister Gloria Solomon of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth.
“It’s a potpourri of familiar and unfamiliar tunes,” Dr. Krusemark said. “At the end of the show, we always sing ‘Silent Night,’ and the audience is encouraged to join in.”
Contact Dr. Krusemark at (913) 682-5151, ext. 6460, for more information on the Christmas Choral Vespers.
The Community Band Christmas Concert will include performances by the USM String Ensemble and feature concert arrangements of Christmas carols and popular favorites such as “Sleigh Ride” and Mannheim Steamroller’s “A Fresh Aire Christmas.” The USM Brass Ensemble will present two Canadian Brass carol arrangements and the Flute Choir will play “Danse Des Mirlitons” from Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Suite.”
These ensembles are made up of USM students, faculty, staff, and alumni, as well as professional and amateur musicians from the local community.
Contact Freda Proctor at (913) 758-6320 for more information on the Christmas Concert.
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