Alma College Choirs to Perform at Midland Center for the Arts
The Alma College Choirs expand their popular Festival of Carols performances with an off-campus offering November 29 at 7:30 p.m. at the Midland Center for the Arts.
"We are pleased to bring the Festival of Carols to the Midland Center for the Arts. It is one of the finest arts facilities in Michigan. It has a beautiful 1,200-seat concert hall with wonderful acoustics," says Choir Director Will Nichols, Secrest Professor of Music.
Traditionally conducted on campus in December, Nichols believes adding a public performance in Midland makes great sense. Besides area residents' great interest in the arts, there are approximately 500 alumni within Midland and many more in the Tri-city area of Midland, Saginaw and Bay City.
"The Tri-city area has a large and sophisticated audience base," he says. "Last year the people in Midland, Bay City and Saginaw responded to the Festival of Carols for the same reasons that the Alma audience has embraced these concerts. And I know our choirs love performing in this magnificent concert hall."
Marking the beginning of the Advent and Christmas seasons for many mid Michigan families, the Festival of Carols has played to standing-room-only crowds for all performances for many years. The concerts attract a family audience and some Alma families attend every year.
The seasonal choir offering is not a worship service; rather "it is a community celebration welcoming people of all faiths for a concert of familiar carols and sacred masterpieces that are part of our shared heritage. The concert attracts an audience that is looking for a chance to slow down and be reminded of the peace and wonder of Christmas."
The audience knows the popular carols sung by the three Alma choirs, such as "O Come All Ye Faithful," "Christmas Bells" and "Ding Dong, Merrily on High" while other pieces may be an introduction to more non-traditional celebratory music.
The members of the Women's Glee Club, College Chorale and Alma College Choir share the stage to perform collectively and independently. Choral singing is the centerpiece of the Festival of Carols and the familiar carols are sung a cappella, but others have instrumental accompaniment. Members of the College's Percussion Ensemble and the Alma Symphony Orchestra accompany the choirs on harp, strings, brass and percussion.
The performance at Midland Center for the Arts is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 29, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and children. Tickets can be purchased at the door the evening of the concert beginning at 6:30 p.m. They can be purchased in advance by calling (989) 631-8250 or visiting The Midland Center for the Arts Box Office, 1801 W. St. Andrews Rd., Midland. Box Office hours are weekdays 10:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and Saturdays noon-5:00 p.m.
Festival of Carols performances in the Alma College Remick Heritage Center are scheduled for Dec. 2 and 3 at 8:00 p.m. and Dec. 4 at 3:00 p.m. Tickets for the Alma College performances went on sale Oct. 17 and can be purchased at the Remick Heritage Center Box Office, 614 W. Superior St., Alma, or by calling the Box Office at (989) 463-7304. The Heritage Center Box Office is open Monday through Friday from 1:00-5:00 p.m.
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Posted: Tue, November 8th, 2005 at 5:42PM
