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This blog was written by Chris Kelly, associate vice president for university marketing and communication.
There are few things that bring the holidays home for me quite like hearing the music of my youth. It wasn’t until I moved out of the house that I realized you could decorate a tree without playing Ray Conniff’s “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” album. (If you’d like to hear what it was like in the Kelly house, here’s a link to the best holiday album ever!)
Mom would fire up the record player, Dad and I would haul in giant bins filled with decorations and before you knew it … holiday cheer filled the air.
It was as close to tradition as anything in the Kelly household, and it still holds a special place in my heart.
Pittsburg State has a similar musical tradition.
Since 1968 the university has annually presented a holiday music performance in Timmons Chapel. The PSU Department of Music will present this year's concerts at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 5, and Friday, Dec. 7.
From their inception, the Timmons Chapel Christmas Concerts have been a showcase for Timmons Chapel, a Gothic-style, all-faiths chapel completed in 1966 as a gift to the university from longtime benefactor Beth Spiva Timmons. (Here’s a more in-depth article)
This year’s program will include an assortment of works for small ensembles and a mix of some Christmas and classical items ranging from Corelli to Bach.
In addition to string ensembles and solos, there will be vocal solos, a brass group and … my personal favorite … hand-bells.
For the past 44 years, these concerts have been free to the public and this year is no exception. Word to the wise though … if you plan on attending, you’ll want to get there early. The seating is limited.
If the 70 degree weather has you feeling more like the Grinch than a resident of Whoville, I recommend grabbing a seat at this year’s Timmon’s Chapel Christmas Concert … a good dose of Ray Conniff wouldn’t hurt either!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
The 44th Annual Timmons Christmas Concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 5 and Friday, Dec. 7.
Pittsburg State University is a comprehensive, four-year university that offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Located in Pittsburg, Kan., it was established in 1903 and has more than 7,000 students.
