MEDIA CONTACT: Judy Moore at 847-491-4819 or jkm229@northwestern.edu

December 1, 2004

December 2004 Music Calendar

The Northwestern University School of Music celebrates the holiday season with six concerts (Dec. 2, 3, 4 and 5) featuring Northwestern’s choral ensembles and orchestras.

December program highlights also include the Newberry Consort’s “Miracles and Martyrs” concert (Dec. 19).

Events listed below will be held on Northwestern’s Evanston campus at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, 50 Arts Circle Dr.; Lutkin Hall, 700 University Place; and Alice Millar Chapel, 1870 Sheridan Rd., as noted below.

For more information, call the Pick-Staiger Concert Office at (847) 491-5441 or go to the Pick-Staiger Web site at www.northwestern.edu/pick-staiger.

To order tickets by phone, call the Pick-Staiger Ticket Office at (847) 467-4000.

DECEMBER 2004

Northwestern University Chamber Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2, Pick-Staiger Concert Hall. The Chamber Orchestra will perform Giuseppe Torelli’s Concerto Grosso in G Minor (“Christmas Concerto”), Henry Purcell’s “Two Christmas Interludes,” Michael Torke’s “Ash,” Antonín Dvorák’s  “Legends” Nos. 1-5 and Northwestern Composition Contest winner Nomi Epstein’s “Primary Colors.” Robert G. Hasty will conduct. Single tickets will be $6.50 for the general public; $4.50 for senior citizens and Northwestern faculty and staff; and $3.50 for students.

Symphonic Band, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3, Pick-Staiger Concert Hall. This festive program includes Norman Dello Joio’s “Fantasies on a Theme by Haydn,” Franz Schubert’s “Little Symphony,” Percy Grainger’s “Bell Piece,” Alfred Reed’s “Russian Christmas Music” and Leroy Anderson’s “A Christmas Festival” and “Sleigh Ride.” Single tickets are $6.50 for the general public; $4.50 for senior citizens and Northwestern faculty and staff; and $3.50 for students.

Kids Fare, “United States Road Trip,” 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, Pick-Staiger Concert Hall. Children aged 3 to 8 can experience American music from ragtime and jazz to bluegrass and Dixieland. Single tickets are $5 for the general public; $4 for senior citizens and Northwestern faculty and staff; and $3 for children.

Christmas Concert, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5, Pick-Staiger Concert Hall. Northwestern’s choral ensembles and Symphony Orchestra will celebrate Advent and Christmas during the University’s 65th annual Christmas Concert. They will perform Ralph Vaughan Williams’ “Hodie” and Glenn Rudolph’s “The Dream Isaiah Saw.” Music faculty member Robert A. Harris will conduct. Single tickets are $8.50 for the general public; $7 for senior citizens and Northwestern faculty and staff; and $4 for students.

Festival of Lessons and Carols, 11 a.m. (prelude music will begin at 10:30 a.m.) Sunday, Dec. 5, Alice Millar Chapel. The Alice Millar Chapel Choir and soloists, Millar Brass Ensemble and Northwestern University Philharmonia will perform John Tavener’s “Ave Maria,” Luis Gasser’s “Magnificat” and Francis Poulenc’s  “O Magnum mysterium.” William Mathias’ “A Babe is Born” and Ben Allaway’s “El Regio Sendero” are two other works on the program. Stephen Alltop, director of chapel music, will conduct. Admission is a freewill offering.

Keyboard Conversations, “The Passion and Poetry of Chopin,” 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17, Pick-Staiger Concert Hall. The second of pianist Jeffrey Siegel’s 2004-05 “concerts with commentary” series will feature Chopin’s Scherzo in C sharp Minor, “Variations brillantes” and other favorites. Single tickets are $23 for the general public; $21 for senior citizens and Northwestern faculty and staff; and $16 for students.

Newberry Consort, “Miracles and Martyrs,” 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 19, Lutkin Hall. This holiday program of medieval music features countertenors Drew Minter and Mark Rimple, violinist David Douglass and viola da gamba player Mary Springfels. Single tickets are $21 for the general public; $19 for senior citizens and Northwestern faculty and staff; and $11 for students.