VSU Choirs Present Holiday Concert in the West Hall Rotunda Nov. 16

VALDOSTA — The Valdosta State University Women’s Choir, Men’s Choir, Chamber Singers, and Spotlighters will conduct their annual holiday concert in the West Hall Rotunda on Saturday, Nov. 16. Performances will begin at 3 p.m., 5 p.m., and 7 p.m.

“This is our favorite performance of the year,” said Dr. Paul A. Neal, a Department of Music associate professor and director of the Choral Studies Program. “The holidays provide such wonderful songs and carols, and the West Hall Rotunda provides the absolute best acoustic for the choirs.”

The Women’s Choir will open the program with the famous “Ceremony of Carols” by Benjamin Britten. The Men’s Choir will follow with several selections, including the world premiere of “On Christmas Night,” arranged by Dr. James Shrader, a professor of voice in VSU’s Department of Music.

The Spotlighters will perform a series of beloved holiday favorites — “Carol of the Bells,” “All I Want For Christmas,” “Christmas Wish,” and “12 Day of Christmas” —that are sure to have the audience singing along. The Chamber Singers will be the last to perform and, in keeping with tradition, will close the concert with “Silent Night.”

“When the Chamber Singers circle the audience in the final piece of the program, the hustle and bustle of the season literally stops for that moment. It is glorious,” Neal said.

The holiday concert will be conducted by Neal, Lynn Corbin, and Kevin Jackson and will feature Theresa Griffith on flute and Merrie Beth Eubanks on harp.

Eubanks is the principal harpist for the Albany Symphony Orchestra and Valdosta Symphony Orchestra. She has studied the harp for more than two decades.

Tickets for the annual holiday concert are $20 for adults and $10 for students. Neal noted that tickets normally sell out in advance, but this year some will be available for purchase at the door. Advance tickets may be purchased by calling the box office at (229) 333-5812 between the hours of 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, and 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Friday.

Proceeds from Saturday’s performance will benefit the Chamber Singers’ musical journey through Historic England during the week of Spring Break, March 14-22, 2014. The premiere auditioned choral group will perform the highest level of choral music in such towns as Staffordshire, Oxford, and London. 

During the nine-day performance tour, Neal said that the students will share their talents at Oxford’s Christ Church and during a music concert series at Stoke Minster in Stoke-On-Trent. The group will also visit Manchester Cathedral, Christ Church College, Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace to view the Changing of the Guard ceremony, and more. He said that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the group, which includes both music and non-music majors.

Contact Dr. Paul A. Neal at (229) 333-5812 or paneal@valdosta.edu to learn more.

Valdosta State University’s 2013-2019 Strategic Plan represents a renewal of energy and commitment to the foundational principles for comprehensive institutions.

Implementation of the plan’s five goals, along with their accompanying objectives and strategies, supports VSU’s institutional mission and the University System of Georgia’s mission for comprehensive universities.

The story above demonstrates VSU's commitment to meeting the following goals:

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