Southwestern Michigan College’s annual holiday concerts take place at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, in the Dale A. Lyons Building theater on the Dowagiac campus.
Admission to both concerts is free.
SMC Jazz Ensemble performs “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear,” arranged in the style of Count Basie; the Thad Jones selection “A Child is Born;” “Santa Baby” featuring vocalist Jasmine Ehlert, a River Valley High School graduate; Ray Charles’ version of “The Little Drummer Boy,” featuring saxophonist Glenn McFarland and pianist Bruce Anderson — brothers who graduated from Berrien Springs High School; and a rocking arrangement of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”
Also playing is Tubaphonia, SMC’s tuba/euphonium ensemble.
Symphonic Band performs “Midnight Sleighride” and an up-tempo swing version of “Troika” from the “Lieutenant Kije Suite” by Serge Prokofiev. This is an adaption of the arrangement performed by the Sauter-Finegan Big Band in 1958. Other selections include an arrangement of “O Magnum Mysterium” by the Renaissance composer Tomas Luis de Victoria and “We Wish You a Mambo Christmas” arranged by Erik Morales.
Choral selections lead off with four excerpts from Handel’s Messiah, including Director of Choral Activities David Carew on “Recit: Comfort Ye, My People; aria: Ev’ry Valley Shall Be Exalted and Concert Choir’s “And the Glory of the Lord, “And He Shall Purify” and “For Unto Us A Child is Born.”
Select Voices performs “Dormi Jesu” by Mark Sirett, “Star of Bethlehem” by Bob Chilcott, “Today the Virgin” by John Tavener and “This Christmas Tide” by Donald Fraser.
Men’s Ensemble sings the annual alumni piece, “Ave Maria” by Franz Biebl.
Vocal Jazz Ensemble presents “White Winter Hymnal,” words and music by Robin Pecknold, arranged by Alan Billingsley.
Bands and choirs combine to close the concerts with Leroy Anderson’s “A Christmas Festival.”
An added feature at this year’s holiday concerts is the Holiday Pop-Up Shop in the art gallery across the hall from the theater. Works of art created by current and former SMC students will be for sale.