A favorite University of Kansas holiday tradition can now be heard for free and closer to Kansas City. KU Choirs and Symphony Orchestra will travel to Johnson County Community College for Vespers on the Road on Friday, Dec. 1 for a concert at 7:30 p.m. at the Carlsen Center’s Yardley Hall.
In its 93rd year, KU School of Music’s Vespers concerts are a multicultural celebration of the season. This year’s performance will feature Randal Alan Bass’ The Night Before Christmas performed by the KU Symphony Orchestra and narrated by KU Provost Neeli Bendapudi. The Symphony Orchestra will also perform works from Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker and Astor Piazzolla’s Oblivion, featuring soloist Hannah Collins, assistant professor of cello. KU Choirs will perform seasonal works including the carol There is No Rose of Such Virtue, the Hebrew song Ose Shalom, Harambee from the Kwanza tradition, an audience sing-along medley of holiday favorites and Gloria from Misa Criolla by Argentine composer Ariel Ramirez, featuring soloist Genaro Mendez, associate professor of voice. KU Choirs will be conducted by Paul Tucker, director of choral activities, and Mariana Farah, associate director of choral activities, and the KU Symphony Orchestra will be conducted by Raffaele Cipriano, a doctoral student in conducting.
Vespers on the Road is made possible by the generous support of Reach Out Kansas, Inc. Tickets are free, but required. They can be reserved by calling 913-469-4445 or online at jccc.edu/carlsen-center-presents/events.
The 93rd Annual Holiday Vespers concerts will be held on KU’s Lawrence campus on Sunday, Dec. 3 with two performances at the Lied Center of Kansas, the first at 2:30 p.m. and the second at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $13.50 for adults and $11 for children, seniors and students. Children will get in free at the 2:30 p.m. performance and KU faculty, students and staff with ID will get in free at the 7:30 p.m. performance. For tickets, contact the Lied Center Ticket Office at 785-864-2787 or online at lied.ku.edu.
On Dec. 3, two free, 30-minute Pre-Vespers concerts will be held at 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the Lied Center’s Bales Organ Recital Hall. The pre-vespers performances traditionally feature choral, organ and brass music.
