As someone who performs in the SNU Chorale, one of the concerts I look forward to the most every single year is the annual Sounds of Christmas concert. This sees many of our university’s music ensembles–ranging from the SNU Chorale to the SNU Jazz Band–come together and perform music that coincides with the Christmas season. In the many years that this concert has been performed, it has often been considered a crowd favorite due to its celebration of the season as well as its celebration of the community around us.
One of the things that is most special about this concert is that there will be a guest artist featured throughout, and this year, we will feature multiple professors from the music department. When talking to one of our professors who is performing in the concert, Prof. Rebekah Ambrosini, she expressed that she was “delighted” to be singing “O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings to Zion” from Handel’s The Messiah, as it told the story of how “the light of the world has come.” In addition to this, they will be performing the Hallelujah chorus, also from The Messiah, as well as another one of their annual pieces, “The B.C. Clark Jingle-Jangle,” which is a wonderfully fun riff on what is arguably one of Oklahoma’s Christmas staples, the jingle for BC Clark Jewelers. Each song performed is unique and addresses a different end of the spectrum of the holiday spirit, and it should make for a wonderfully diverse experience for the audience.
However, more than just putting together a collection of songs to celebrate the season, this concert also represents a time when we celebrate those who have put so much effort into supporting the SNU School of Music. Whether it be the parents of students, SNU faculty members, or even people who have donated to the school of their own volition, these are the people for whom SNU puts on these concerts. When talking to one of SNU’s students who is in the SNU Chorale, Allie Ward, she expressed that SNU puts on concerts like these to “bring people joy,” and, in the case of this concert, “remind them that Christmas is a time to celebrate the beautiful gift of community” that God has given the world. The SNU School of Music does what it does to celebrate those who support them, and this concert is no different.
In essence, the Sounds of Christmas concert is both a chance to celebrate the work of the music department and those who have supported the department, in addition to reminding everyone about the many wonderful things relevant to the Christmas season. The concert will take place on December 2 and 3 of this year, so everyone will have multiple opportunities to see the performance. You can purchase tickets on Booktix.com. It is truly a wonderful concert that SNU puts on every year, and I implore you all to check it out!
Photo by SNU Creative