Like many other events this season, University of Scranton’s 53rd annual Noel Night concert will move online.
The show will air on the university’s Performance Music Facebook page on Saturday, Dec. 5, starting with a band caroling prelude at 7:45 p.m. followed by the main show at 8. The U of S then will post the full concert to the Performance Music YouTube channel. The university pivoted to an online concert because of coronavirus-related concerns and has pre-recorded and edited together the video.
While Noel Night usually is only a choral concert, this year it will include a mixed choir that will perform a few songs virtually as well as members of the String Orchestra, the Percussion Ensemble, beginner string and percussion players, steel drummers and band members. Musician, composer and educator Wycliffe A. Gordon; Mark Gould, former principal trumpet of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; and special alumni guests also will participate. University officials will speak and present readings from the Gospels of John and Luke.
“We all certainly need something to lift our spirits during these challenging times, and it has been a pleasure to watch the resilience displayed by these students in their determination to continue to make and share their musical talents in whatever way is possible during this pandemic,” said Cheryl Y. Boga, performance music conductor and director. “They were adamant that the first year in more than half a century without a Noel Night would not happen on their watch.”
For more information call 570-941-7624, email music@scranton.edu or visit scranton.edu/music.
