Annual 'Holiday Percussion Concert' is Saturday

Children and parents alike will be in for entertainment when the Southeast Missouri State University Percussion Ensemble's annual "Holiday Percussion Concert" begins Saturday morning at the River Campus.

The concert is free to the public and starts at 10:30 a.m. at the Bedell Performance Hall.

Dr. Shane Mizicko, associate professor of music and director of percussion studies at Southeast, said the concert is more than just a cute show for children.

"I started the concert six years ago," Mizicko said. "I have two children who were young at the time, and I wanted to create a professional concert for kids to enjoy. I knew there was a niche for a professional, high-caliber show."

Mizicko said the concert has changed a little over the years with the addition of slideshows and "egg-shakers."

"We do have slideshows as eye candy for young kids," he said. "But instead of T-shirts, we have egg-shakers that can be played in rhythm with the music. It gets kids involved."

In addition to live holiday tunes and egg-shaking, children can engage in coloring activities before the show in the Bedell lobby. Complimentary milk and cookies will be served at the end of the performance.

The lineup for this year's Holiday Percussion Concert begins with "A Christmas Overture (Part I)," followed by "Sleigh Ride." The next number will be "The Polar Express" from the 2004 movie of the same name, followed by "The Nutcracker" with Russian and Chinese dance segments performed by dancers from Dance Extensions Dance Studio in Jackson.

"The weather threw a wrench into our rehearsals, but we found time this week to make up for it," said Jackie Robertson, director of Dance Extensions Dance Studio. "It's a nice community event, and we're happy to be a part of it."

A "Frosty/Rudolph/Santa" medley will be followed by "Of Hanukkah" and Alma Schrader Elementary School's fourth-grade choir will join the ensemble for "Christmas Time is Here." "Silent Samba" will be performed, and the ensemble again will be joined by Alma Schrader's fourth-grade choir and singers from the Department of Theatre and Dance for "Somewhere In My Memory." The Department of Theatre and Dance singers will perform the "Jolly Jingle Christmas Medley" with the ensemble. The closing song will be "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24" backed by lights and smoke machines.

Mizicko said everyone is welcome to attend.

"It's become a tradition with a lot of families," he said. "They still keep coming, even as the kids are getting a little older."

The 2013 Holiday Percussion Concert is expected to run up to one hour. Doors open at 10 a.m., and a $1 donation is suggested for admission for ages 6 and older to help defray costs of the concert. Egg shakers will be sold for $3 each.

For more information, call the River Campus at 651-2265 or visit rivercampusevents.com.

klewis@semissourian.com

388-3635

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518 S. Fountain St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.