{"id":32135,"date":"2025-11-29T15:37:19","date_gmt":"2025-11-29T20:37:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/?p=32135"},"modified":"2025-11-30T13:26:35","modified_gmt":"2025-11-30T18:26:35","slug":"audience-will-feel-the-christmas-spirit-with-inspiring-music-at-upcoming-tusculum-university-community-chorus-concert","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/news\/2025\/audience-will-feel-the-christmas-spirit-with-inspiring-music-at-upcoming-tusculum-university-community-chorus-concert\/","title":{"rendered":"Audience will feel the Christmas spirit with inspiring music at upcoming Tusculum University Community Chorus concert"},"content":{"rendered":"

GREENEVILLE<\/strong> \u2013 Members of the Tusculum University<\/a> Community Chorus are putting the final touches on their upcoming Christmas concert, which will feature a variety of music that will uplift the audience.<\/h3>\n
\"Kathy

Kathy May will again conduct the chorus.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"The

The Tusculum University Community Chorus will hold its Christmas concert Monday, Dec. 8.<\/p><\/div>\n

The chorus will perform \u201cIlluminare\u201d by Elaine Hagenberg Monday, Dec. 8, at 7:30 p.m. in the Marilyn duBrisk Theatre of Annie Hogan Byrd Fine Arts Center. It is a five-movement piece complete with a chamber orchestra that will last about 30 minutes. \u201cIlluminare\u201d is also the overall name for the concert, which will contain four different elements for the audience\u2019s enjoyment.<\/p>\n

The concert is free, but donations are welcome.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are excited about our performance as we prepare to sing beautiful new music for the community,\u201d said Kathy May, the chorus\u2019 conductor and director. \u201cWe are particularly thrilled to add the orchestral component to our show, which will complement the high-quality voices our chorus brings. This is a can\u2019t-miss concert for the community, and we encourage everyone to join us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIlluminare\u201d the segment is just three years old, and this concert is the first time it will be performed in this area. The music is serious. The chamber orchestra will have close to 20 performers who will play the violin, viola, cello, bass, flute, oboe and percussion.<\/p>\n

\"The

The Tusculum University Community Chorus\u2019 concert Monday, Dec. 8, will feature humorous and serious music.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Members

Members of the Tusculum University Community Chorus perform at their final rehearsal before their May concert.<\/p><\/div>\n

In addition to \u201cIlluminare,\u201d the chorus will sing \u201cThou Must Leave Thy Lowly Dwelling\u201d by Hector Berlioz, which is another serious piece. But the group will also have fun as it performs \u201cA Consort of Christmas Carols,\u201d which consists of three humorous songs by Peter Schickele. He presented them under the composition name of the fictional P.D.Q. Bach. As P.D.Q. Bach, Schickele won four consecutive Grammy Awards for best comedy album from 1990-1993.<\/p>\n

The concert will conclude with a sing-along of Christmas selections that will enable the audience to participate. It will include a piano duo featuring Tim Hybarger and Karen Miller, and the orchestra members will be invited to join the celebration as well. May is keeping the names of the sing-along songs a secret until the night of the concert.<\/p>\n

Also under wraps is a special surprise the chorus has planned for the evening, but May promises the audience will find it quite appealing.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur guests will experience quite a breadth and depth of music in this concert,\u201d May said. \u201cThe songs will strengthen the Christmas spirit for our audience and prepare them well for the birth of Jesus. We welcome the opportunity to add to the Christmas season with this performance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here is the order of songs for the concert:<\/p>\n

\u201cThou Must Leave Thy Lowly Dwelling\u201d<\/strong> by Hector Berlioz<\/p>\n

\u201cA Consort of Christmas Carols\u201d<\/strong> by Peter Schickele<\/p>\n