Music department celebrates season

After the first big snow of the season and with winter break just around the corner, the Augustana Campus is preparing for the holidays.

In keeping with the spirit of the season, the Augustana Music Department will be presenting several performances over the course of the next two weeks.

Starting Dec. 2, the Augustana Choir, under the direction of James Johnson, will perform with the South Dakota Symphony in the 72nd annual Christmas Vespers celebration. The service will feature an original cantata composed by Camaldolese monk Cyprian Consiglio entitled The Song of Luke.

"The Song of Lukewill also involve distinguished members of the South Dakota symphony and local dancers," sophomore Adam Jorde said. "The dancers are from a studio run by a 1989 Augustana graduate."

Vespers has previously been held at First Lutheran church downtown but, in honor of Augustana's sesquicentennial, the performances will now be taking place in the Chapel of Reconciliation on Dec. 2 and 3 at 8 p.m. and on Dec. 4 at 3 and 8 p.m.

"First Lutheran is absolutely beautiful and just adds a wonderful ambiance," junior Amanda Buhl said. "It's been an amazing, magical experience in the past. I love Christmas music, and being able to sing with all of the choirs, and the congregation, and the orchestra – the sheer power of it excites me."

At 4 p.m. on Dec. 5, the Augustana Choir, Collegiate Chorale, Angelus and orchestra will combine to present a new concert, the Christmas Choral Celebration, at Our Saviors Lutheran Church.

The band will also have its own concert, taking place in the Washington Pavilion on Thursday, Dec. 9 at 7:30 p.m. is a Christmas Extravaganza, presented by the Augustana Band, Brass Choir and College Community Band.

This is also the first time that the Augustana Brass Choir will not be involved in Vespers. They will only be performing at the Extravaganza.

All combined, this concert will feature more than 250 people. The concert will feature traditional Christmas numbers, including the Hallelujah Chorus.

"Use it as a chance to be festive," band director Bruce Ammann said.

The world premiere of volume four of the Festival of Hymns, as arranged by '94 Augustana graduate Jeremy Hegg, will also be presented at the Extravaganza.

"We've hired him the last four years to write a medley of carols, and the audience sings along with them," Ammann said.

Parking is available for the concert directly to both the east and south of the Pavilion.

"The concert will last for about an hour and a half," Ammann said. "It's a fun night. People will hear a lot of familiar music and will have the opportunity to participate. It's very festive."

Tickets are available for all the above performances at augietickets.comor by calling the Augustana box office at (605) 274-5320. Tickets are free for all Augustana students.