Southwestern College musicians will focus on Christmas music during the first weekend in December with concerts on Friday and Sunday.

On Friday, Dec. 2, the Southwestern College Concert Band will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the Richardson Performing Arts Center.  Admission is free to Southwestern College students and $5 for adults.

Under the direction of Brandon Blackburn, the band will perform holiday favorites including arrangements of “Nutcracker Suite” by Tchaikovsky, “Festive Songs of Christmas” by Frank Erickson, and “Angels, From the Realms of Glory” by Robert Smith.

On Sunday, Dec. 4, the South Kansas Symphony, under the direction of Daniel Stevens, and the A Cappella Choir, conducted by David Gardner, will perform at 3 p.m. also in the Richardson Performing Arts Center.  There is no admission charge.

Highlights to the South Kansas Symphony concert include a narration of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” by Gardner; guest conductor Wesley DeSpain, Derby High School, conducting “Sleigh Ride”; and the traditional “Hallelujah Chorus.”

In addition to its other pieces, the A Cappella Choir will lead the audience in singing two familiar carols accompanied by James Leland on the newly refurbished Reuter pipe organ.

The SC Singers will be featured in “A Musicological Journey Through the Twelve Days of Christmas,” a humorous setting of the familiar song that mimics the styles of many of the best known classical composers throughout history.

Following the Sunday concert, Blackburn will lead the Jazz Combo in the lobby of Christy Administration Building.

For more information, contact Rose Hanna at (620) 229-6272.