Athens holiday tradition continues with UGA Holiday Concerts

The spirit of the holidays will rise to the rafters of Hodgson Concert Hall when the finest musicians at the Hugh Hodgson School of Music—including the UGA Symphony Orchestra (UGASO), Combined Choirs, British Brass Band and more—take to the stage for the annual UGA Holiday Concerts on Dec. 1 and 2 at 7:30 p.m.

The concerts, part of the Hodgson School’s flagship Thursday Scholarship Series, open in grand fashion with the UGA Combined Choirs and UGASO performing holiday standards as well as works from Leroy Anderson, Gerald Finzi and Ralph Vaughan Williams. These performances will be among the largest the School stages throughout the year.

After intermission, the UGA British Brass Band leads the audience in a sing-along, filled with classic carols. A jazz combo follows, performing three jazz standards featuring Greg Hankins, frequent piano collaborator at the School of Music, and vocal soloist Tereska Grynia, a doctoral violin student.

The festivities come to a close with Randall Alan Bass’ “Gloria,” bringing the orchestra and choirs back on stage for a rousing finale to the concert.

The Holiday Concerts conclude the Thursday Scholarship Series for 2016. The series returns on Jan. 12 with a solo performance from Evgeny Rivkin, professor of piano.

Tickets are $25 each and are available at pac.uga.edu and the Performing Arts Center box office. Those unable to attend can view the Friday, Dec. 2, performance live on the School of Music’s website: music.uga.edu/streaming.

The Thursday Scholarship Series began in 1980 and continues the tradition of “Music Appreciation Programs” started by Hugh Hodgson in the 1930s. Proceeds from contributions and ticket sales to these concerts are among the primary means through which School of Music scholarship funds are raised each year.

The UGA Hugh Hodgson School of Music sponsors more than 350 performances each year. To view the performance calendar, subscribe to the weekly email concert listing or learn more about the School of Music, go to music.uga.edu.