The Naperville Municipal Band is set to wrap up its 2021 performance season beginning at 3PM on Sun., Dec. 19, with its annual Holiday Concert at Wentz Concert Hall on the campus of North Central College.
The concert will be conducted by Naperville Municipal Band Conductor/Music Director Ron Keller as well as Assistant Conductors Emily Binder and René R. Rosas.
Ann Lord again will serve as emcee with her historical tributes to selected holiday songs and Christmas carols.
Concert attendees are asked to arrive in advance of the 3PM start, prepared to follow local indoor protocols, and take a seat in the concert hall for a memorable hour of traditional holiday favorites.
Cathy Lord returns to narrate “T’was the Night Before Christmas,” followed by her leading a medley of traditional holiday music for the annual audience sing-along when that Jolly Old Elf is expected to suddenly appear to spread a little joyful “Ho! Ho! Ho!”
“Emily will introduce our audience to ‘A Cowboy Christmas,’ in addition to familiar songs such as ‘Sleigh Ride,'” noted Keller, adding that Rosas will conduct “Hanukkah Festival” and other seasonal favorites. “And Kelsey Fletcher Broucek will perform a solo on her alto-saxophone.”
“A Christmas Festival” by Leroy Anderson will be the final selection. The memorable arrangement includes “Joy To the World,’ “Deck the Halls,” “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” “Good King Wenceslas,” “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” “Silent Night,” “Jingle Bells” and “Adeste Fideles.”
“Our Holiday Concert aims to capture the spirit of the holidays with something for everybody—all ages,” Keller said. “The concert has been kept to one hour so attendees can get to their cars while it’s still daylight as winter is just around the corner…
“One more thing,” Keller said, “Santa has been in touch and says he’s checked his list twice to be sure we’re on his calendar. He said he didn’t want to overbook the way he did two years ago!”
Thanks to the City of Naperville SECA Fund, the concert is free of admission charge and open to the public. The Wentz Concert Hall is located in the North Central College Fine Arts Center, 171 E. Chicago Avenue, just steps from downtown Naperville.
Looking forward, the Naperville Municipal Band will perform its Winter Concert beginning at 3PM Sun., March 20, 2022, also at Wentz Concert Hall.
For more info about the City band that’s been around since 1859, visit www.napervilleband.org.
PN File Photos
