'Four for the Season' Music Festival Celebrates Holidays

SALISBURY, MD---Salisbury University celebrates the holidays with its winter music festival, “Four for the Season,” Sunday-Saturday, December 3-9, in Holloway Hall Auditorium.  “The four-concert series offers something for everyone,” said Linda Cockey, chair of the Department of Music. “Audiences have been increasing in recent years and we think this is a program the whole family and community will enjoy.”

The festivities begin with the bell-themed SU Chorale and Chamber Choir concert “Ringing in the Holiday Season” 4:30 p.m. Sunday, December 3. Conducted by Dr. William Folger, SU’s director of choral activities, the two ensembles spotlight the bell chorus from Mack Wilberg’s Tres Cantus Laudendi, accompanied by percussion and organist Susan Zimmer.  The chamber choir also performs works such as “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” with text by Robert Frost. Donations are accepted at the door to benefit a planned 2008 Carnegie Hall performance.

The SU Concert Band, conducted by Lee Knier, follows 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 5. “This year’s concert has a lot of variety and we think it will be an audience-pleasing event with selections listeners hope to hear and will be glad to hear,” Knier said. The 56-member band will perform selections ranging from “Americans, We March” by Henry Fillmore to a medley of Christmas favorites.

The SU Jazz Brazz Big Band and nine-member Jazz Conzeption perform under Dr. Jerry Tabor’s direction 7:30 p.m. Thursday, December 7. Mixing old-style jazz, soul, pop, classic fusion and holiday songs, the program is the most diverse in the Big Band’s history. The role of last year’s vocalist, Laurel Noone, has expanded to include favorites such as “Somewhere over the Rainbow” and “RESPECT.” Featured soloists are Scott Bunting and Bill Courtney on trombone; Jeb Gibson, Brian Mahoney and David Hodges on trumpet; Aaron Hardin on drums; Ronald Reed and Charlie Loane on saxophone; Frankie Withers and Paul Scott on piano; and Kevin Klien and Zach Caceras on guitar.

Sponsored by the Department of Music, all three concerts are free and the public is invited. For more information call 410-543-6385.

The festival culminates with the Salisbury Symphony Orchestra’s Winter Concert 8 p.m. Saturday, December 9. Conducted by Dr. Jeffrey Schoyen, the SSO joins classical music aficionados worldwide in celebrating the 250th anniversary of Mozart’s birth by presenting the composer’s “Piano Concerto in G Major.” It features guest soloist Ernest Barretta, critically acclaimed pianist and winner of several musical honors who earned his doctorate from the Peabody Conservatory. The SSO also performs Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 2. Prior to the concert, the SSO Brass plays holiday favorites in the lobby. The orchestra also pays tribute to Fred Marino, retiring general manager of Public Radio Delmarva for his longstanding support of classical music in the region.

Sponsored by SunTrust Bank, admission is $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens and SU faculty and staff, and $5 for non-SU students. Children 12 and under and SU student ID holders are admitted free. For advance tickets visit the SU Bookstore Web site at salisbury.collegestoreonline.com (click “SU Box Office”). For more information call 410-548-5587 or visit the SU Web site at www.salisbury.edu.