ECC music ensembles put on annual holiday concerts
The Concert Choir, Concert Band and the Steel Bands at Elgin Community College offer something for everyone - from inspiring choral pieces to holiday favorites and contemporary music hits served up with a Caribbean flair - during December performances at the Building H Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. Tickets for each concert are $9 or $7 for students and seniors.
The ECC Concert Choir will start off the month with "Choral Classics" at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1. Under the direction of John G. Slawson, the ECC Concert Choir will perform a wide range of choral music including many pieces with international influences. Z. Randall Stroope's "Hermosas Ninfas Que, En El Rio Metidas" ("Beautiful Nymphs Who are in the River") is based on the sonnet by Spanish Peruvian writer Garcilaso de la Vega. Joan Varner's haunting "Who Will Sing My Song When I Am Silent?" is inspired by and dedicated to a young victim of a Nazi concentration camp. And Craig Courtney's "Ukrainian Alleluia" is inspired by the time the composer spent in the Ukraine. The Concert Choir also will be performing the traditional spiritual "Swingin' with the Saints" (arranged by Mark Hayes), the holiday favorite "Coventry Carol" (music by Darmon Meader), and more inspiring musical selections during this annual concert.
The ECC Concert Band will offer "Holiday Traditions" at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3. Under the direction of Jim Kull, the ECC Concert Band will be performing a holiday-themed concert that includes classics like Leroy Anderson's "Sleigh Ride" and new takes on holiday favorites including "Fantasia on Silent Night" by Julian Bond and "A Christmas Fantasy on 'Do You Hear What I Hear'" by Calvin Custer.
The ECC Steel Bands will get to "Holiday Jammin' " at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4. The ECC Steel Bands, under the direction of Steve Butters, will be performing an eclectic mix of calypso, pop, reggae, rock and more. Selections include director Butters' original arrangements of Kurt Cobain's "Lithium," Lorde's "Royals," The Beatles' "Eleanor Rigby," and a medley Frank Zappa songs. The concert also will feature Paul G. Ross' arrangement of Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" and more selections joyfully performed on steel drums.
Tickets for all performances in the ECC Arts Center are available online at tickets.elgin.edu or at the ECC Arts Center box office located in Building H. Box office hours are noon to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and noon to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. To purchase tickets by phone, call (847) 622-0300. All major credit cards are accepted.
Visit elgin.edu/arts for more information about the ECC Arts Center, including upcoming events and links to the Arts Center's Twitter and Facebook pages.