UAF Music Department holds virtual holiday concert

Published: Dec. 16, 2021 at 5:02 PM AKST
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FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) Music Department is putting on a virtual Jolly Jamboree concert on Thursday, December 23.

Jaunelle Celaire, Chair of the department said, “It’s nice that we can have a concert that features all of our disciplines, ensembles, [and] faculty.”

Celaire went on to explain the virtual concert will include chamber music and entries from the university.. “We’re taking one piece from each large ensemble that performed over the last semester and we’re going to put it together, and it’s going to be this all-inclusive music celebration.”

According to Celaire, preparing and editing the compilation involves a lot of work. “When you look at the final product, it looks like it took five minutes to put together, and if anything that COVID has taught me, it doesn’t take five minutes to put together. Not at all.”

Some pieces were recorded during live performances. Others were put together specifically for this concert.

Daniel Stawser, Instructor of Music Education and Cello at UAF, said, “We’re going to hear a lot of music that you’d consider classics, in terms of Christmas music, maybe some things you haven’t heard before too.”

The event also serves as a fundraiser for music students to participate in Young Artists programs next summer. “It is not easy to be a musician, but especially this time of year I think all of our students really want to remind people of just how special the gift of music is,” Stawser said.

The concert will be livestreamed on the UAF Music Department’s YouTube page on December 23rd at 6:30 p.m.

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