The Summit Choral Society and the Summit Concert Band will be combining their musical abilities this holiday season to put on a free Christmas concert on Tuesday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m. at the Silverthorne Pavilion.
One portion of the concert will be dedicated to the choral society, another to the band, and the majority of the performance will feature choir and band together.
“We have a lot of traditional Christmas music, Christmas carols, songs that people know, combined with a few other pieces that will be new, and a sing-along at the end,” said Jill Schroeder-Dorn, director of the Summit Choral Society.
The concert will feature a range of music and styles, from the traditional Christmas classics, such as the Hallelujah chorus from “The Messiah,” to a “Christmas on Broadway” medley. The band will also perform while a member of the choir narrates the beloved holiday poem “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.”
Though her favorite piece changes every year, Schroeder-Dorn said her current pick on the program is “Christmas Day,” composed by Gustav Holst, who also composed the orchestral suite “The Planets.”
“There will be some fun music; there will be some serious music,” said Beth Steele, Summit Concert Band director. “There should be something for everyone.”
This will be the first Christmas concert for Steele, who recently took the reins. Steele comes from a military background. Recently retired from the U.S. Army, she served as a conductor for various Army bands in the U.S. and Europe.
Schroeder-Dorn has been with the choral society for three years. She graduated with a doctorate in choral conducting from the University of Northern Colorado. In May, she and the choral society traveled to New York City and sang at Carnegie Hall.
“I think it should really be a terrific concert,” said Joni Thieme-Weinberg, board member and publicity chairman for the Summit Choral Society. “Both Jill and Beth are extremely talented.”
Both Schroeder-Dorn and Steele said they are looking forward to performing together. The band and the choral society perform throughout the year, with the Christmas concert traditionally being one in which they team up either with each other or other groups.
Audiences can expect Christmas music of all styles, a sing-along and refreshments, all for free.
“If they’re not in the mood for the holidays yet,” Steele said, “that will absolutely put them in the mood for the holidays.”
Courtesy of the Summit Daily News.
