Jennifer Miles - The Appalachian

Members of the Steely Pan Steel Band performed their annual Christmas
concert Friday in Farthing Auditorium. Pictured above (l-r): Chris Ellis,
Jason Jordan, Lindsay Scarborough and director Dr. Scott Meister.

Annual Scholarship Christmas Concert
a showcase of talent

Janelle Silverman - Entertainment Beat

Sounds of the holidays filled the air last Friday evening as the Miriam Cannon Hayes School of Music held its annual Scholarship Christmas Concert in Farthing Auditorium.

The concert, a festive performance held to drive the Christmas spirit into members of the community and students at Appalachian State University, is also used as a scholarship fund-raiser for upperclassmen who excel in the music program of the Hayes School of Music.

During a speech, Dr. William G. Harbinson, dean of the Hayes School of Music, said approximately $5,667 was given to talented students last year as a result of generous sponsors and ticket sales from last year’s Christmas show. “I asked you last year to come back with a friend. I believe you did,” said Harbinson as he looked out over the audience. Every seat in the auditorium was occupied.

Harbinson credited Steve Hopkins, concert coordinator and director, for the show’s success. Harbinson said Hopkins takes care of the event, the stage and everything else needed to make the show a wonderful success.

The concert featured a range of Christmas music, with performances from 13 different musical ensembles.

The show opened with The University Singers and The Brass Choir, singers who were seated in the audience and made their way to the stage in front of the closed curtain, singing Christmas melodies.

Behind the curtain onstage as the singers performed, The Steely Pan Steel Band, directed by Scott Meister, prepared to play its steel and trash can-style drums. The band’s Calypso style was a hit with the audience, as the band played a medley of Christmas songs arranged by Meister.

As each singing ensemble performed two Christmas songs on stage, the instrumental ensembles were set up on the balcony, performing during set changes while the curtain was closed to provide a non-stop night of musical enjoyment.

The Trumpet Choir, The Appalachian Flute Ensemble, The Horn Choir and The Trombone Choir each played familiar holiday songs such as “Deck the Halls” and “What Child is This?”

Each ensemble performed voice alone and then with piano or other instrumental music.

The final group to come to the stage was The Appalachian Symphony Orchestra, directed by Cynthia Katsarelis. The orchestra performed the well-known tune “Sleigh Ride” and remained onstage to provide the music for the finale, “Hallelujah,” in which The Appalachian Chorale, The University Singers, The Chamber Singers, The Men’s Glee Club and The Treble Choir came out to provide voice for the song.

Jennifer Aune, a sophomore elementary education major with a music minor, performed in The Triple Trio performance and The Treble Choir. The Treble Choir originally was not going to be a part of the show, and the choir only had a month of class time to practice for the performance, said Aune.

The Treble Choir meets only three days a week and is a non-audition class. To be a part of The Triple Trio, the student must be in The Treble Choir and there is an audition, said Aune.

“The concert is a showcase of what the Hayes School of Music has to offer,” she said.

“The staff is really good. It [the program] is well directed, and there is a lot of talent in the ensembles,” said Aune.

For more information or to become a sponsor for the music program, contact the Hayes School of Music at 262-3020.