The University of St. Thomas welcomes the public to the music performances listed below. All will be held on the university’s St. Paul campus unless noted otherwise. Admission is free. For more information, call the St. Thomas Music Department, (651) 962-5850.
December performances:
- 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, in Brady Educational Center auditorium: Dr. Sowah Mensah conducts the university’s African Music Ensemble in a free concert.
- 4 and 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, in Orchestra Hall, at 1111 Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis: The University of St. Thomas will present its 22nd annual Christmas concert, “’Tis Love That’s Born Tonight.” The concert, with a program of choral and instrumental music for the Advent and Christmas seasons, features nearly 300 student performers in eight of the university’s vocal and instrumental ensembles.
Tickets, which must be purchased through the Orchestra Hall Box Office, are available for online purchase at www.minnesotaorchestra.org or by phone order at (612) 371-5656 or 1 (800) 292-4141. All seats are $15 plus a nominal Orchestra Hall transaction fee. There is no limit to the number of tickets that may be purchased. Please note: The concert is open to adults and to children over 6.
- 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8, in Brady Educational Center auditorium: St. Thomas’ Instrumental Jazz Ensembles and Jazz Singers present a free concert. Jeff Rinear and Denis Allaire direct. The program includes works by Benny Carter, Sammy Nestico, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker and more. The Jazz Singers offer some holiday standards: “Christmas Time is Here,” arranged by Jason Smith, and “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy,” arranged by Michele Weir.
- 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9, in Brady Educational Center auditorium: The university’s Guitar Ensemble, directed by Joan Griffith, gives a free concert. The concert will present a wide variety of musical styles from Bach, Vivaldi and Albeniz to Miles Davis, indie rock, blues and some Brazilian choro music.
- 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, in Brady Educational Center auditorium: The university’s Symphonic Band, conducted by Dr. Douglas Orzolek, presents a free concert. The program includes works by Maillart, Wisconsin composer John Stevens and Bach, and features holiday music by Leroy Anderson.
