October 31, 2019
The Highlands Concert Choir performs in April 2018. Photo: Rick Loffredo/University Relations
Las Vegas, N.M. – The New Mexico Highlands University Concert Choir presents a free “Christmas is Coming” concert Nov. 10 at 3 p.m. in the university’s historic Ilfeld Auditorium at 900 University Ave.
Some of the musical selections include songs such as “Silver Bells,” “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas,” “Christmas Children” and “Goin’ on a Sleigh Ride.”
“This is a secular celebration of Christmas,” said Andre García-Nuthmann, director of Highlands’ choral and vocal program. “There are many familiar songs and also ones I’ve never heard before, ranging from humorous to profound and beautiful.”
García-Nuthmann will conduct the concert. Highlands music faculty member Edwin Aybar is the piano accompanist.
Alto Kathryn Kear and soprano Chantel Mullen, both Highlands music production majors, are vocal soloists for “Merry Christmas, Darling.”
Highlands student and baritone Robert Lewis solos along with community member and alto Amy Hufnal in “Christmas Children.”
The concert includes Highlands music graduates as soloists. Tenor Ron Martinez sings “Silver Bells” and soprano Elena Chavez solos with Mullen in “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”
Las Vegas community member vocal soloists include bass Joe Cooney in “I’ll be Home for Christmas”; Hufnal in “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer”; soprano Betty Thompson in “Santa Baby”; and tenor Michael Campbell in “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”
Las Vegas community member Steve Leger is featured as a trumpet soloist in “Sleigh Ride.”
“The soloists for this concert are doing a tremendous job preparing for the concert,” García-Nuthmann said.
The program includes a number of medleys with different themes that include all-time favorites like “Christmas Time is Here,” “Deck the Halls,” “Nuttin’ for Christmas,” “A Christmas Carol,” “Up on the Housetop,” “O Christmas Tree,” “We Wish you a Merry Christmas” and “Sleigh Ride.”
The Highlands University Concert Choir is composed of Highlands University faculty, students, and staff, as well as Las Vegas community members.
“Our Concert Choir is a top-notch group of excellent musicians. This semester, the choir has done especially good work. I’m convinced they will deliver a stellar performance,” García-Nuthmann said.