Aurora University To Host Holiday Concert Dec. 9

AURORA, Ill.-- Classical and popular holiday selections, including J.S. Bach’s Magnificat in D, will be performed in “Gloria in Excelsis!,” a holiday concert by the Music by the Lake Singers and Festival Orchestra and the Aurora University Chorale.

The concert is at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, in Crimi Auditorium at the Institute for Collaboration, 407 S. Calumet Ave. in Aurora. The program is free to the public.

The concert is part of AU’s 2007-2008 Celebrating Arts and Ideas series.

Arts and Ideas Series sponsors are: MetLife and Nicor, Gold sponsors; Harris Aurora and Human Resource Management Systems, LLC, Silver sponsors; City of Aurora and Sikich, Bronze sponsors. Media support is provided by The Beacon News and Comcast.

Christine Flasch, executive director of Music by the Lake and director of the University Chorale, will direct.

The program includes fresh, updated arrangements for orchestra and choirs of Handel's "Joy to the World," and Franz Gruber's "Silent Night," with jazz overtones.

A variety of colorful percussion instruments and electric bass and guitar will add spice to Caribbean, African, and American music.

With 40 voices, the University Chorale debuted last fall to perform at university functions and concerts each semester. Most members of the University Chorale won scholarships through an audition process last year.

The Music by the Lake Singers hold advanced degrees in vocal performance. The talented singers from Wisconsin and Illinois have appeared in operas and operettas on the GWC campus over the past few seasons.

The 35-member Music by the Lake Festival Orchestra, drawn from the summer opera orchestra, will join the singers for this enjoyable concert of Christmas selections.

Before joining Aurora University, Flasch spent 12 years singing leading soprano roles with opera companies nationwide, culminating in eight seasons with the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

Her background includes participation in outstanding choirs throughout her formal education, including membership in the first Wisconsin State Honors Choir. 

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