Student and faculty performers close out the year with one of Boulder's favorite holiday traditions
CU Boulder鈥檚 Holiday Festival may be a long-standing tradition, but it still has a few new tricks up its sleeve.
With more than 30 years of history, the听听is a Boulder institution. Each December, thousands in the community pay a visit to听听to take in the merry atmosphere and the seasonal music performed by students and faculty.
The festival has its beloved traditions鈥攕wags of greenery hung from the balcony, a rendition of the catchy Nigerian carol 鈥淏etelehemu鈥� and a 鈥淗allelujah Chorus鈥� singalong to cap it all off鈥攂ut change is always afoot.
One of this year鈥檚 most exciting changes? An added matinee performance.
鈥淒ue to high demand for earlier performances, we鈥檙e offering two Saturday matinees this year,鈥� says Artistic Director听. 鈥淲e hope this change affords our audiences the chance to bring more loved ones who don鈥檛 want a late night out.鈥�
A lot of beautiful new music awaits audiences, too, including more vocal and instrumental jazz, fresh renditions of 鈥淥 Holy Night,鈥� 鈥淚 Saw Three Ships鈥� and 鈥淲e Need A Little Christmas,鈥� and a whole set devoted to celebrating Hanukkah.
鈥淲e鈥檒l have a klezmer tune, a piece called 鈥楬ebrew Melody鈥� and more,鈥� Gentry says. 鈥淲e have such a variety of faith traditions in our community, and we relish the opportunity to celebrate that.鈥�
Though he looks forward to it all, Gentry says one of his favorite parts of the festival happens before each concert begins. About an hour before showtime, festive tunes played by composer and PhD student Kevin Padworski ring out from Macky鈥檚 carillon. Then, about a half hour later, student carolers dressed in medieval costume entertain patrons in the foyer while upbeat vocal jazz warms up the crowd in the concert hall.听
In Gentry鈥檚 opinion, the Holiday Festival is the absolute height of holly jolly: 鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing more beautiful than walking inside on a frosty December night with bells ringing and carolers singing around you.鈥�
