Jazz and Japanese performers help light up the UAFS campus

 

story and photos by Joel Rafkin
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The holiday season kicked-off Monday night (Dec. 6) on the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith campus with the annual Season’s Greeting Concert and Campus Lighting.

The event was well attended but seats remained vacant at the Stubblefield Center, which is unfortunate considering the diverse musical talent showcased by top-notch performances from the symphonic band, jazz band, Jazz Catz, chorale, chorus and solos — all free of charge!

The program began at 7 p.m with performances by the UAFS Symphonic Brass followed by a saxophone quartet. A live Internet feed linked to the Bunkyo, Japan, Vocal Ensemble appeared on a projected screen at 7:20 p.m. Despite a brief technical glitch that froze the feed and mandated a new connection, the performance went on as planned. "Silent Night" was sung in Japanese and English by the UAFS Jazz Catz and Bunkyo Vocal Ensemble, respectively. Each took turns on verses before joining together in a collaborative performance.

The music continued for the next hour. Performances were interspersed with vocals and instrumental selections. Some, like "Cantate Domino," were more serious and subdued while others, "Gettin’ in the Mood for Christmas" for example, were high-energy and jovial.

Don Bailey, director of Jazz Studies, took the stage for a solo saxophone performance of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" before the concert closed out with a combined performance of the school’s musical program and audience participation in a sing-a-long of Christmas music.

Many audience members proceeded to the Campus Green for the lighting ceremony following the concert. Mrs Claus, Rosemary Johnson, and Dr. Stephen Husarik sang Christmas music while guests enjoyed complimentary hot chocolate and hot apple cider. Santa Claus mingled throughout the crowd talking to children and posing for photos.

The Campus Green came aglow following a countdown from "10" and people either walked the pathways to tour the light display or rode on golf carts designated as "sleighs."