(Posted November 30, 2015)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- The instrumental ensembles at Juniata College will perform a Spectrum Holiday Concert featuring Christmas music from various genres and styles at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 9 in Rosenberger Auditorium in the Halbritter Center for the Performing Arts.

Tickets are $5 for adults and free for those under age 18, or Juniata students with valid ID. The percussion ensemble is directed by James Latten, professor of music at Juniata.

The concert will be preceded by a special performance by Steely Pan and the PVCs, a novelty group that plays music on instruments built from PVC plumbing pipe. The group will play "Christmas Set," arranged by Amanda Sick

The PVC-based ensemble will also play "Trepak," which is taken from "The Nutcracker Suite," by Peter Tchaikovsky. The band then will play "Auld Lang Syne," the classic New Year's song.

The concert will open with a performance by the Wind Symphony, playing "A Christmas Festival," by Leroy Anderson, a medley of holiday songs that is considered one of the finest Christmas-themed arrangements ever written.

Next, the Honors Brass Quintet will play holiday songs suited to the horns in the ensemble. Following the quintet, the Keyboard Percussion Choir, which plays such instruments as marimbas, xylophones and vibraphones, will perform "Silent Night," the ageless Christmas hymn.

The Concert Band, will take the stage next, performing "White Christmas," by Irving Berlin. This song is a holiday classic made famous by Bing Crosby's rendition in the film "White Christmas."

Two Juniata students will perform as flute duet, Sarah Roberts, a junior from Ellicott City, Md., and Madeline DeAngelis, a sophomore from Altoona, Pa.

The college's Percussion Ensemble will follow by performing "Troika," from "Lieutenant Kijé." Written by Sergei Prokofiev, for a 1933 Soviet movie, the "Troika" section is often used to score movie scenes set in winter or during Christmas.

The Honors Woodwind Quintet will play a holiday selection and will be followed by the Concert Band playing, "Christmas at the Movies," arranged by John Moss. The medley contains music from "The Polar Express," "Nightmare Before Christmas" and "Home Alone."

The Honors Saxophone Quartet will play a Christmas tune, followed by the Concert Band playing "Fantasy on 'Jingle Bells," which is arranged by Dane Newlove.

John Kovalchik, a community member from the area, will play "Christmas Time is Here" on the tuba. Following that, the Wind Symphony Woodwinds will perform "The Twelve Days of Christmas."

The Keyboard Percussion Choir returns to the stage to play "Angels We Have Heard on High," followed by the Concert Band playing "Symphonic Prelude on Adeste Fidelis," by Claude T. Smith.

The Honors String Quartet will play "Silent Night" next, followed by the entire Wind Symphony returning to play "Veni Immanuel." (A meditation on "O Come, O Come Immanuel.")

The finale of the concert brings all of the instrumental ensembles on stage to perform "Deck the Halls," playing an arrangement by Chip Davis, the musical arranger behind Mannheim Steamroller.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.