Concert and Campus Lighting Ceremony kick-off holiday season at UAFS

 

Hundreds of students, faculty and members of the community all bundled up and braved the cold to attend the annual University of Arkansas at Fort Smith Season’s Greeting Concert and Campus Lighting Ceremony on Tuesday evening (Dec. 6).

A part of the school’s 31st Season of Entertainment, the concert has become a holiday tradition for both the university and the community.

Held in the Stubblefield Center, the Season’s Greeting Concert included performances from several of the school’s musical groups including the UAFS Jazz Catz, Jazz Band Symphonic Band and Women’s Chorus. The UAFS Chorale also entertained the crowd with a unique rendition of the carol Jingle Bells.

The show kicked-off with a selection from The Nutcracker by the UAFS Trumpet Ensemble. UAFS Chancellor Dr. Paul Beran then welcomed the audience and thanked all of the sponsors, faculty and volunteers who help make the concert possible. Beran also recognized the incredible amount of hard work the participating students put into practicing and preparing for the event.

New to the line-up this year were the UAFS Jazz and Percussion Ensembles. Both groups made their debut at the concert and treated the audience to Christmas classics including Jingle Bells and O Holy Night.

Also new to the concert this year was the ability for those not in attendance to view the event online. The university opted to stream the performances over the internet to allow more people to enjoy the show.

Emcees for the event included 5News anchor Daren Bobb and Dr. Elizabeth Momand, UAFS’s Head of Music and Humanities. In addition to her hosting duties, Momand sang soprano during the Percussion Ensemble’s playing of O Holy Night.

Prior to the concert, a crowd gathered in front of the school’s bell tower to watch Chancellor Beran, and his wife, Janice, flip the switch on the holiday lights. Displays included Santa’s reindeer, large red and green candles and a giant Christmas tree designed in UA-Fort Smith blue. Following the lighting ceremony, many strolled through campus viewing the lights before making their way to the holiday concert.