Holiday-theme concerts scheduled

Locals will get a double dose of holiday sounds this week as two groups perform holiday-themed concerts.

The first concert takes place Tuesday when the Southeast Missouri Symphony Orchestra joins with Southeast's Choral Union and University Choir in a festive choral/orchestra concert at Academic Hall.

On Dec. 1, the local musicians and singers will come together for the fourth annual "Holiday with the Pops" concert taking place at Lynwood Baptist Church.

Both concerts have become traditions around the holidays in Cape Girardeau.

The symphony orchestra/choral concert will be performed in two parts, but all of the selections were chosen for their holiday sound. The first part will consist of orchestral works, "Norwegian Dances for Symphony Orchestra" by Edvard Grieg and "L'Arlesienne Suite No. 2," by Georges Bizet, both performed by the symphony orchestra under the direction of Dr. Sara Edgerton.

For the second part of the program the symphony orchestra will share the stage with local soprano Mary Mims, a former instructor at Southeast and current music instructor at Nell Holcomb school, and the university choral ensembles under the direction of Dr. Steve Hendricks.

Mims will solo on Francis Poulenc's "Gloria," a piece using the classic "Gloria" text. For Mims the concert is a homecoming -- she hasn't performed at Southeast in about 15 years as a soloist, despite a long list of performance credits.

The fact that she'll be singing holiday music sweetens the deal that much more, Mims said.

"Every singer looks forward to this time of year, not just because of the opportunity to perform, but because of the nostalgia," said Mims. "Even the things we've continued to sing over and over the years, it's special just because it's holiday music."

The "Holiday with the Pops" concert will also blend orchestra and voice. The Heartland Pops Orchestra will team up with a 24-piece adult chorus and the 40-piece Cape Girardeau Children's Choir under the direction of Pam Dumey. This year's concert will feature not only Christmas music, but two selections of Hanukkah music as well. The Heartland Victorian Voices will also be on hand, dressed in Victorian period costumes to sing carols a capella.

Conductor Jerry Ganiel said another first this year will be CDs for sale, to be recorded during the Dec. 1 live performance, that can be ordered at the concert.

Like the university concert, the pops concert will be split in two parts; the first part will feature KFVS12 newsman Mike Shain narrating the Christmas story and the second part is music only. Leslie Essner will be the concert's featured vocal soloist on "What We All Want for Christmas."

A broadcast of last year's concert with Amy Jacquin as narrator will also be televised on KFVS12 and UPN on Christmas Eve and Christmas. The concert is sponsored in part by the Southeast Missourian newspaper.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182

Want to go?

* What: Festive choral/orchestra concert

* Where: Academic Hall Auditorium

* When: Tuesday, 8 p.m.

* Info: 651-2265

* What: Holiday with the Pops

* Where: Lynwood Baptist Church

* When: Dec. 1, 7 p.m.

* Info: Jerry Ganiel, 579-6127