December 1, 2022
An Annual Tradition: Ring in the Season at West Chester University’s 101st Annual Holiday Concert
West Chester University invites the surrounding community to ring in the holidays with a festive celebration of music at the Wells School of Music's 101st Annual Holiday Program. The concert is on Saturday, December 10, at 3 p.m. in the 1200-seat Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall, Philips Memorial Building, 700 S. High Street, West Chester. Director of Jazz Studies Jonathan Ragonese directs. Tickets are $14 and on sale now at http://www.wcupatix.com/schoolofmusic or 610.436.2266. The concert will also be available to watch via livestream at www.vimeo.com/wsom.
A time-honored tradition since its inception in 1921, the Holiday Concert features choral, orchestral and jazz ensembles from the esteemed Wells School of Music in a 90-minute concert of both sacred and secular music, including holiday favorites as well as selections that are inspired by the Season.
Ragonese says, “The Wells School of Music invites members of our surrounding community to this joyous and family-friendly event. It is the perfect way to jump-start the holiday season.”
Participating in the concert are many of the Wells School of Music’s ensembles including
the WCU Symphony Orchestra, the Criterions Jazz Ensemble, Men’s Chorus, Women’s Chorus,
Cantari Donne, and Mastersingers.
Highlights include selections from Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker and an orchestrated reading of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas performed by the WCU Symphony Orchestra and narrated by Dean Christopher Hanning; a combined choral performance of In Terra Pax, conducted by David DeVenney; and many favorite holiday jazz selections from the Criterions Jazz Ensemble.
An event highlight is a rendition of O Holy Night sung by the winner of the vocal honors competition, who is chosen by a faculty panel. It was traditionally awarded to the best female soloist, but now spotlights either a male or female vocalist. This year’s winning vocalist is Sofia Bobrysheva ’22, who comes to West Chester University via Canada and Russia.
Limited parking is available across and along the street just outside the Philips Memorial Building. Parking is also available in West Chester’s M Lot, just a short walk away. Purchasing tickets in advance is strongly encouraged.
West Chester University’s Wells School of Music offers students an outstanding opportunity in concentrated performance and musicianship. The school’s superior performance and practice venues include 22 new Steinways, Skinner organ, tech lab, Roland piano lab, and more. Students study with renowned faculty who have dual careers as dedicated educators and professional musicians. Faculty provide private lessons for all music students and are the directors for numerous student ensembles. The school supports a wide variety of Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees, including those in music education, performance, composition, studio composition, music theory, music history, and more. Graduates pursue successful careers at major institutions and teach music education at home and abroad.