Suzie Snowflake to return for 8th Annual Concert of Carols

2017 Concert of Carols at Adams State University

VALLEY — This year has been a difficult year on many fronts. During the busy holiday season slow down to reground yourself and recharge your spirit by attending the 8th annual Concert of Carols. Mt. Blanca Fine Arts Association has assembled another musical treat that is sure to uplift your holiday season.

Mt. Blanca Summer Music Conservatory (MBFAA) will bring its production of the 8th annual Concert of Carols to three Valley venues this December: Colorado College auditorium on Friday, December 21st, at 1 p.m.; Del Norte High School Auditorium on Friday, December 21st at 7 p.m.; and Richardson Hall on the Adams State University campus Saturday, December 22nd at 2 p.m. - a perfect way to spend the afternoon before Alamosa’s Parade of Lights!

Concert of Carols serves several purposes:

1. Present holiday concerts for the community given by a group of professional musicians,

2. Provide a source of revenue to fund scholarships for the Mt. Blanca Summer Music Conservatory,

3. Allow conservatory students the opportunity to perform in a concert setting alongside professional musicians,

4. Bring talented young artists who are just beginning their careers to the San Luis Valley.

Music performed will include seasonal pieces by Adam, Jenkins, Piazolla, Vivaldi, Yon, and others. The second half of the program will include the traditional audience sing-a-long.  Also on the second half of the program will be a repeat of “Snow II – Falling” by Australian composer Felicity Wilcox - last year’s Concert of Carols featured the American premier of this work.

Participants for the concert are:

8th year:  Randy D. Macy, pianist, Fort Garland.  25+ years college music faculty, 20 years as a professional church musician in Denver/Metro area, six years as collaborative pianist at Adams State University.

7th year: Dr. Sarah Off, violinist, Phoenix. Artistic Director of Mt. Blanca Summer Music Conservatory, community college professor, private violin studio in Phoenix, and conference keynote speaker.

6th year: Nicole KandeLind, vocalist, Denver. Candelight Dinner Theatre in Fort Collins, Opera Colorado chorus, First Mennonite Church (Denver) choir director, violist for Denver-based string quartet.

3rd year: Kevin Gwinn, vocalist, Denver: Choral director at Denver Waldorf School, 2016 Young Voices of Mississippi Competition winner, 2015 and 2016 finalist in the Denver Lyric Opera Guild’s Competition for Young Singers.

3rd year. Patrick Blaisure, dancer, Broomfield.  A movement artist and full-time college student. Patrick is currently studying at the Colorado Conservatory of Dance, is an apprentice at 3rd Law Dance Theater in Boulder, and researched movement at the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance this past summer.

3rd year: Corliss Taylor Dunn, vocalist, Fort Garland.  Broadway Veteran (Bubbling Brown Sugar and Raisen), Toured U.S., Mexico and Canada with the Doc Severnsen Orchestra. Toured Europe in Raisen and PORGY AND BESS.

2nd year: David Schneider, vocalist, Alamosa. Director of San Luis Valley Community Chorus.

1st year: Norah Joy Clydesdale, cellist, Pueblo, an active performer and educator who has performed with the Grace String Quarter, Chamber Orchestra of the Springs, Pikes Peak Philharmonic and Pueblo Symphony Orchestra.

1st year.  Josh Selvin, dancer, Broomfield. Josh was born in Manhattan, New York and at the age of 8 moved to Boulder. He has danced with Pennsylvania Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Colorado Conservatory of Dance, and Kansas City Ballet.

Also performing on the concert will be students from the Mt. Blanca Summer Music Conservatory and Adams State University.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for seniors and students and will be available at the door.