Elise Balin
This year, holiday music will have a memorable twist as the music department staff will put on a “Real Reel Holiday” performance featuring holiday music with a Hollywood flavor.
The UW Music Department will come together on Dec. 14 and 15at the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts to deliver a performance that will feature music from popular Hollywood films and television shows. The music selection comes from a variety of on-screen seasonal favorites, including “Home Alone”, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and others. The performance will not only feature well known holiday tracks, but will also incorporate Duke Ellington’s rendition of The Nutcracker.
“What makes it so unique is that virtually every ensemble and department is involved in this performance,” said soloist and vocal arts instructor, Maureen Boddicker.
The time and work that goes into putting on the gala by not only the music department staff, but the students as well, was emphasized by Boddicker. The UW music department faculty members will take part with different solos in the Duke Ellington jazz melody, with professor Scott Turpen on saxophone, Boddicker as a soprano soloist and Andrew Wheelock on drums. However, the performance does not stop there.
A light will also shine on the Bel Canto Singers, Civic Chorus, Singing Statesmen, Symphony Orchestra, Wind Symphony and members of the UW Jazz ensembles. The ensembles will be conducted by Robert Beiser, Holly Dalrymple, Michael Griffith and Nicole Lamartine.
Along with various musical talents, Craig Blumenshine of Wyoming Public Television will take on the role of narrator throughout the performance.
“The role of narrator has such importance,” said Boddicker, “due to the fact that he will hold the audience’s attention while one hundred performers are moving off and on the stage, as well as the equipment that accompanies them.”
But the talents within the arts department continues, due to the fact that it takes every stage technician available in order to put this event on. The hours of work put in by stage technicians and musicians is what creates this festive event that consistently draws a large crowd. The music department staff urges the public to get their tickets as soon as possible due to the popularity of the annual performance.
As the audience arrives at the Holiday Gala, they will be greeted by holiday decorations, festive lights and music in the lobby which will be performed by the UW Tuba Christmas ensemble. As a postlude, organist Punch Williamson will perform his traditional holiday organ suite as the audience departs. The public is encouraged to join in the festivities this Sat. at 3 p.m. and this Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be found online at the fine arts box office website and can be purchased in person at the box office, located in the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts.
