Music on campus rings in holidays
Wednesday, November 21, 2018 8:00 AM
Arts & Entertainment, Campus Culture, News
Pittsburg, KS
Musical offerings planned over the next few weeks will add a holiday spirit to the campus and community.
"Music always adds to the holiday season, and we’re happy to be able to offer several opportunities for the public to enjoy it, while at the same time providing our students and faculty an opportunity to share their talents," said Susan Marchant, chair of the PSU Music Department.
"We hope that our audiences will enjoy attending them as much as we've enjoyed preparing them."
Holiday Extravaganza
The Southeast Kansas Symphony will perform its annual Holiday Extravaganza, a free musical gift to the community, on Nov. 30 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts, 1711 S. Homer St.
Directed by music professor Raul Munguia, it will include holiday music by the Symphony and by the Bells of the Balkans. This year’s concert will be unique: it also will include a special performance of selections of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite with movements played by the symphony and with the PSU Jazz Ensemble performing the Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn arrangement.
Details: 620-235-4472
PSU Wind Ensemble
While not billed as a holiday concert, the PSU Wind Ensemble will give a musical gift to the community in the form of final concert of the semester, to be held from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 2 in the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts.
And, following the concert, the audience is invited to enjoy a reception in the lobby with refreshments and holiday music played by student small ensembles.
Directed by music professor Andrew D. Chybowski, it is free and open to the public, and is called “The Awakening Hour.”
Details: 620-235-4481
Holly Jolly Tubas
Now an annual event, the Holly Jolly Tubas, directed by music professor Doug Whitten, will perform in a free concert from 7:30 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 4 in the lobby of the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts.
Holly Jolly Tubas will feature tuba and euphonium players from all over Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and the North Pole. The playlist will include traditional Christmas carols and the audience is encouraged to sing along.
All tuba, baritone, and euphonium players are invited to perform; registration will begin at 5 p.m. with rehearsal to begin at 5:30 p.m. Cost for musicians is $10 and includes all music and a souvenir button.
Details: 620-235-4070
Timmons Music Concert
The Timmons Music Concert will be held on Dec. 5 and Dec. 7 at the historic Timmons Chapel, 409 E. Ford, just as it has been for some 50 years.
It will begin both nights at 7:30 p.m. and will be done by about 8:45 p.m. David Hurley, professor of music history and oboe at PSU, directs the concerts.
From their inception, the free holiday concerts have been a showcase for Timmons Chapel, a Gothic-style, all-faiths chapel completed in 1966 as a gift to the university from longtime benefactor Beth Spiva Timmons.
The concerts began in 1968 and for many years, Timmons personally provided the greens and supervised the simple holiday decorations.
The music is performed by students, faculty and members of the community. Seating is limited in the small chapel.
Details: 620-235-4479
Holiday luncheon
Music will be a highlight of the annual PSU Holiday Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Dec. 5 in the Overman Student Center Ballroom. It is open to students, staff, faculty, retired personnel, as well as the community at a cost of $8 per person.
Holiday entertainment will be provided by the Pittsburg State University Choir.
Advanced purchase of tickets is required. No tickets will be sold at the door. Tickets can be purchased at gorilladining.com or by calling 620-235-4995.