{"id":32163,"date":"2025-12-04T12:55:04","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T17:55:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/?p=32163"},"modified":"2025-12-04T12:55:04","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T17:55:04","slug":"tusculum-university-community-band-to-involve-the-audience-in-upcoming-christmas-concert-that-will-feature-new-songs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/news\/2025\/tusculum-university-community-band-to-involve-the-audience-in-upcoming-christmas-concert-that-will-feature-new-songs\/","title":{"rendered":"Tusculum University Community Band to involve the audience in upcoming Christmas concert that will feature new songs"},"content":{"rendered":"

GREENEVILLE<\/strong> \u2013 Attendees of the Tusculum University<\/a> Community Band\u2019s Christmas concert will not only hear delightful new Christmas music but also possibly play a role in the performance.<\/h3>\n
\"The

The Tusculum University Community Band plays a song at a previous Christmas concert.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"The

The percussion section performs at a prior Christmas concert.<\/p><\/div>\n

The band will take the stage in the Marilyn duBrisk Theatre inside Annie Hogan Byrd Fine Arts Center Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 7 p.m. for the show \u201cHome for Christmas.\u201d This is a free concert, but donations are welcome. The audience will enjoy a variety of songs that will further put people in the Christmas spirit while experiencing another high-quality arts performance at the university.<\/p>\n

Cal Doty, Greeneville\u2019s mayor, and Alan Corley, mayor of the City of Tusculum, will again serve as emcees for the concert.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are always creating an enjoyable concert that enriches the lives of our guests,\u201d said Chris Chambers, the conductor and director. \u201cThis performance is no different, and we are excited we will inject a little fun into the concert along with the excellent music. We urge people to join us and listen to their friends and neighbors providing a festive atmosphere that will help prepare everyone for Christmas.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chambers said the band will hold two raffles with a special prize \u2013 the ability for the winners to lead the band in one number and play with the performers.<\/p>\n

One raffle will be open to all children in the audience, who will receive a Jeep duck, which have become popular. These are rubber ducks, which have encouraging messages on the chest and are meant to serve as a random act of kindness when they are placed on that brand of vehicle. For purposes of this concert, the ducks will be numbered, and the band will pick five during the concert.<\/p>\n

The children holding those five will then be invited to the stage to play the sleigh bells on the closing song \u201cSleigh Ride.\u201d This idea has a two-fold benefit of creating additional music for the song but also not requiring a lot of advanced knowledge by the child about the instrument.<\/p>\n

\"\u201cHome

\u201cHome for Christmas,\u201d featuring a variety of songs, will be the name for the Tusculum University Community Band\u2019s upcoming performance.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Community

Community members will have a chance to be part of the song \u201cSleigh Ride\u201d and join in the sing-along during the Tusculum University Community Band\u2019s Christmas concert.<\/p><\/div>\n

The second raffle will be for adults, who will have an opportunity to purchase a ticket for a chance to conduct the band during \u201cSleigh Ride.\u201d The revenue will serve as a fundraiser for the band. In addition, the winner will receive a gift as a thank you for leading the band in the song.<\/p>\n

During the concert, the band will also invite the audience to sing along as the musicians play a medley of five or six Christmas tunes. The concert program will contain the words to the songs.<\/p>\n

Besides \u201cSleigh Ride,\u201d the songs the band will play will be different from prior Christmas concerts. Chambers said that is intentional to keep the Christmas concert from being repetitive from one year to the next. But he emphasizes that the caliber of songs will remain extremely strong and pleasing to the audience.<\/p>\n

One of the songs the band will play is a \u201cNutcracker\u201d suite, which will include eight short movements. Another song, \u201cTroika,\u201d is a Russian Christmas tune.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are thrilled to incorporate the audience in meaningful ways in this concert and are excited to see the outcome,\u201d Chambers said. \u201cConnecting with community members is extremely important to us because they support us so well. We look forward to seeing everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

The songs for this concert are:<\/p>\n