HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS
Aural Gingerbread
Music and dance permeate the upcoming festive season
T
he holiday season always brings a mixture
of music to Eugene that is both classy and
traditional. Venues are gearing up for this festive
time of year with top-notch performances and
music gigs that will have you procrastinating on your gift
giving and anticipating your show-going all at the same
time.
The Gleeman Fall Folk Festival , directed by Dr.
John Janzi , takes off Nov. 27 at the Wildish Community
Theater with choral music and traditional American folk
songs. The festival will feature The Oregon Festival
Choirs , the South Albany Rebel Singers and the
Sheldon High School Dublinaires , each of which are
recipients of the Eugene Gleemen Grant for 2011-12.
Dec. 8 and Dec. 11 the Jaqua Concert Hall boasts the
stellar vocals of Bob Cross and Bill Hulings , along
BY DANTE ZUÑIGA-WEST
EUGENE CONCERT CHOIR’S
“A CLASSIC CHRISTMAS”
OPENS DEC. 10 AT THE
HULT CENTER
THE GROUCH STEALS CHRISTMAS DEC. 8
AT THE WOW HALL
with Jesse Cloniger (reeds), Vicki Brabham (piano,
vocals) and more at “ Yule Be Swinging ” — an evening
of Christmas song favorites that even includes carols you
and the family can sing along to.
More holiday merry making ensues Dec. 10-11, at the
Silva Concert Hall when the Eugene Concert Choir
presents “ A Classical Christmas .” This larger-than-life
performance will include portions of Handel’s Messiah
performed by the 100-voice Eugene Concert Choir and the
Bach Christmas Cantata performed by the Eugene Vocal
Arts Ensemble . Be on the lookout for gospel singer
Darline Jackson and tenor Brennen Guillory , plus
UO’s a cappella group On the Rocks .
Christmas would seem incomplete without
Tchaikovsky’s signature “Dance of the Sugar Plum
Fairy” from The Nutcracker — that pensive, titillating
tune reminding you of Christmas Eve dinners, eggnog
and falling asleep while hiding behind the Christmas tree
with your siblings attempting to ambush Santa and hold
him hostage for everything in his sack. Eugene Ballet
Company brings this epic dance, song and theatre to life
Dec. 16-18 at the Hult Center. Don’t miss the opportunity
to take your family to this trans-generational classic,
choreographed by Toni Pimble and performed by a
pulsating dance troop representing some of Eugene’s fi nest
performers.
As if the holiday music extravaganza couldn’t get any
better, WOW Hall is stepping it up even more than usual,
bringing in the “How the Grouch Stole Christmas” tour. This
is not some half-cocked indie hip hop invasion put together
by struggling promoters who need money. This is the real
thing — Grouch , Zion I and Eli , paired with Evidence
of the L.A.-based Dilated Peoples hip-hop powerhouse.
You’d be hard-pressed to fi nd a combination this dope
coming to any town anymore, given the sleepy state of
underground hip hop. This is stocking-stuffi ng, chestnut-
roasting, tree trimming, head-bobbing get-down music.
Dec. 8, come early and leave late for this truly impressive
combination of artists, sure to rip the night in half with
heavy beats and slick 5-percenter lyrics.
HH
WWW.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM
EW’S HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS 2011 3