Christmas festivities to merge old, new
As the holiday season approaches, the Tabor College Music Department prepares to present its traditional music festivities — with a twist.
In addition to the traditional choral and orchestral performances, this year's Christmas programs will feature the premiere of new handbells to be played by an unusually selected group of Taborites.
The handbells, recently purchased by the music department, will have their debut Friday, Dec. 12, at the Christmas Festival at the Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church.
Wielding the new instruments will be a father-daughter group of male faculty/staff members whose daughters are Tabor students.
Richard Cantwell, music department chair, said this performance will be a "once in a lifetime event" that will remind people that Christmas is the family holiday while getting more of the Tabor community involved in the musical festivities.
Although ending with this debut performance, the concert series will begin according to tradition.
The holiday festivities will kick off at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7, at the Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church with the traditional performance of Handel's Messiah, featuring students and faculty from the Tabor community.
Soloists this year will be Dr. Holly Swartzendruber, assistant professor of voice, senior Tanya Schroeder, junior Jodi Warkentin and senior Lisa Loewen singing soprano; junior Sara Waldner and sophomore Amy McDaniel singing alto; senior Brad Just singing tenor and sophomore Jonathan Regier singing bass.
"Just like 'Pomp and Circumstance' is a tradition at commencement, the Messiah is a tradition at Christmas," said Cantwell. "It helps remind us of the real meaning of Christmas."
The next holiday festivity will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 10, in the Tabor Chapel-Auditorium. The "Feast of Carols," as it has become known, features a singing of Christmas carols by Tabor ensembles, under the direction of Dr. Brad Vogel, along with the congregation.
The music department will conclude its holiday festivities with the annual Christmas Festival at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 12, at the Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church. This year's theme is "Celebrate! The Savior is Born."
The trombone/low brass choir will welcome attendees with music in the lobby prior to the starting time.
"The Christmas festival is my favorite music event," said senior Kyla Gaeddert, music major. "I love performing Christmas music, and it is also really fun to hear all of Tabor's music groups in one concert."
The concert choir will begin the evening with a candlelight processional followed by an onstage concert, including a performance of Spanish song "Riu, Riu, Chiu" with solos by Warkentin and Regier.
Next will be a special musical arrangement featuring Swartzendruber and Steve Johnston, adjunct professor of guitar, performing "I Wander as I Wonder," arranged by Johnston.
Following will be a piano solo from Dr. Sheila Schmitt of "Carnaval, Op. 9."
"I am very excited to have Dr. Swartzendruber and Dr. Schmitt in the program this year," said Cantwell. "They are two star performers and adding them to the program will add so much."
The symphonic band will follow, playing "Festivo," featuring the percussion section; "Galop," featuring Lyndsay Coad, Rachel Foote and Gaeddert as soloists; "How Great Thou Art," featuring Tim Huber and Angela Buller as soloists; and ending with "A Christmas Festival for Band."
Select choral ensemble Cantate! will end the evening by singing arrangements of various Christmas carols.
All of the events are open to the public.
