Enjoy music of the season at CLC's December concerts

More than 200 musicians from the College of Lake County Music department will present four December concerts, three of which have holiday themes. Community members can get in the holiday spirit by attending instrumental and choral concerts presented by CLC students and community members in December.

• 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9: Holiday Choral Concert. CLC's four choirs will present a concert of holiday songs ranging from classic to contemporary. The concert will feature more than 100 singers from Choir of Lake County, CLC Singers and Chamber Singers (Ingrid Mikolajczyk, director) and Gospel Choir (Matthew Hunter, director). The festive program will include "Silent Night" (with an audience singalong), "Still, Still, Still," "Nativity Carol," "Christmas in the Southwest," "There Shall a Star From Jacob Come Forth" and "Hallelujah" from "Messiah."

• 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10: Wind Ensemble Holiday Concert. The 50-member ensemble, composed of talented CLC students and community members, will perform compositions such as "America, The Beautiful," "A Fireside Christmas," "Trauersinfonie," "La Fiesta Mexicana," "Symphonic Prelude on Adeste Fidelis," "Festive Overture" and "Sleigh Ride" by Leroy Anderson.

• 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 11: Jazz Combos Concert. Two student combos, directed by Dr. Michael Flack and John Mose, will perform a free concert in Room P101.

• 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13: Concert Band. Singer Wayne Messmer will enhance the concert by narrating "The Night Before Christmas" and singing "The Christmas Song" with the Concert Band, directed by John Mose. Messmer is best known for his rendition of the national anthem at professional sporting events in the Chicago area. Other pieces include "E Pluribus Unum," "The Marriage of Figaro Overture," "Overture Alfresco," "To Walk With Wings," "Fanfare and Overture," "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year," "A Showstoppin' Christmas" and "Fantasia for Christmas."

Concert prices range from $5 to $8. Instrumental music concerts are free to students under age 18. For tickets and information, call the Box Office at (847) 543-2300 or visit www.clcillinois.edu/tickets. The Box Office is open Monday through Friday from noon to 6 p.m. and 60 minutes before each performance. Is is recommended to buy tickets in advance or arrive at least 30 minutes before the performance. Due to the quiet nature of many songs, choral concerts are not appropriate for children under age 3. Concerts are held in the Mainstage Theatre of the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts at the Grayslake Campus unless noted otherwise.

For more information about the CLC music department, contact the Communication Arts, Humanities and Fine Arts division, at (847) 543-2040 or visit www.clcillinois.edu/programs/mus.