DUBOIS – The DuBois Vocal Arts Ensemble will present Christmas Motifs, its annual Christmas Concert, on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 7 p.m. at the Paul G. Reitz Theater, which is located at 36 E. Scribner Ave., in DuBois.
The 27-member vocal ensemble, which is comprised of 17 women and 10 men, will perform a variety of sacred and secular Christmas carols and holiday musical selections.
The concert opener will be “Welcome Christmas” from the Universal Pictures Motion Picture “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”
The DuBois Vocal Arts Ensemble is also honored to perform an original composition by DVAE member Joe Shupienis entitled “We Remember Christmas,” which he dedicated to his mother.
Other selections in the concert will include “Carol of the Bells,” also known as “The Ukrainian Bell Carol;” “The Shepherds’ Chorus” from Gian Carlo Menotti’s Opera, Amahl; and the Night Visitors, “Angels Divine,” a traditional French Carol performed by the women and “Gesu Bambino” (The Infant Jesus) performed by the men.
Some lighter pieces will include “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” “Little Saint Nick,” “Skatin’ With My Baby,” Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas”and a lively piece for Hanukkah entitled “Bidi Bom.”
Members of DVAE include the following singers: Soprano – Annette Crooks, Leslie DeLarme, Diane Kennard, Kristen Knarr, Dolly Marshall, Jennifer Pothoven, Cathy Shank, Julie Smith and Patty Stewart; Alto – Molly Dressler, Karen Fuller, Jeanne Hayes, Colleen Lanzoni, Sally Laux, Marion Meloon, Rikki Ross and Barbara Shestak; Tenor – Marc Gelfand, Jeff Samick, Joe Shupienis, Chris Snyder and Tom Stafford; and Bass – Phil Colgan, Paul Lanzoni, Jerry Meloon, John Sobeck and Don Wojtaszek.
Eloise Pifer Rice is the director and piano accompanist. Other Piano accompanists will include Sally Laux and Barbara Shestak.
Instrumental accompanists will include Jeanne Hayes on the flute, Evelyn Bloom on the violin, Jennifer Keith on the clarinet, Melissa Kelso on the trumpet, Larina Good on the trombone and Marc Gelfand and Chris Snyder on percussion.
Featured Children soloists will be Claire Guthrie, Damien Mullins, Serena Mullins and Savannah Ross. Mary Beth Geppert is the CRI arts manager for the Reitz Theater.
Tickets will be available at the Reitz Theater Box Office on Thursdays between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.., Kohlhepp True Value or online at reitztheater.com. Any remaining tickets may be purchased at the door on the night of the performance.
