Music is nearly synonymous with the holidays — whether it is a traditional Christmas carol, classic jazz or country standard, or modern pop cover, everyone has a favorite Christmas carol or holiday song. The Community Arts Center’s monthly Lunch with the Arts series is celebrating the connection between the holidays and music, thanks to Centre College choir director and Stodghill Professor of Music Barbara Hall.
“For anybody involved with choral music, it is the high point of the year,” says Hall. “There is no other time of the year when this type of music is as widespread or popular.”
The holidays are a unique time where musical styles and genres seem to fade into the background, united by their common subject matter. As Hall explains, “the holidays are a feel-good time and singing makes you feel good. Every style of music works, because every style expresses that same joy.”
Hall’s sing-along will be equal parts lecture and performance. Not only will she lead Lunch with the Arts attendees in a series of holiday songs, she will also speak on each song’s composer and musical background, sprinkling in interesting and little-known facts along the way. The presentation is designed to help people understand the important role music takes in holiday celebrations and above all, get everyone into the holiday spirit.
Accompanying Barbara on piano is Centre College organist and Presbyterian Church of Danville Choir Director Jeff Jones. His talents are in great demand during the holidays, especially when he directs Handel’s Messiah at the Presbyterian Church and accompanies the numerous Centre College ensembles and choirs for their holiday performances. For him, this Lunch with the Arts presentation is yet another way to celebrate the season.
For Hall, this month’s Lunch with the Arts presents a unique opportunity unavailable the rest of the year. As she says, “There is nothing more joyous than singing with other people. There isn’t a way for people to gather together and talk all at once — it turns into meaningless noise. But when people come together and sing, every singer adds to the sense of community and fun and beauty. It’s like nothing else. One of the most important functions music serves is to make people feel good and connect them with one another. It’s so easy to do and share.”
About Hall
Hall has been at Centre College since 1980, where she teaches humanities, music history, music theory, and conducting. A lifelong music-lover, performer, conductor, and teacher, Hall finds as many ways to make and share music as possible.
She has a Bachelor of Music from University of Michigan, Master of Arts from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Doctorate in Music from Indiana University. Currently, she directs both Centre College and Danville’s choral programs, which includes Centre Singers, Centre Women’s Voices, Centre Men, Summer Singers, Sounding Joy, and Danville Children’s Choir.
IF YOU GO
Lunch with the Arts: Barbara Hall’s Holiday Singalong
Noon-1 p.m. Wednesday
Community Arts Center
$5 at the door, or $10 to reserve
a boxed lunch.
Reserve your lunch by 6 p.m. Monday at www.communityartscenter.net.
COMING UP
Jazzitude Jazz Band Rehearsal
7-9 p.m. Monday
If you are an experienced jazz musician looking for a place to play, this is it! For more info, email jazzitudeband@aol.com.
Exhibiting Artist Reception —
“New Year New Art”
6-8 p.m. Jan. 10
See the first artwork of 2013.
“For anybody involved with choral music, it is the high point of the year,” says Hall. “There is no other time of the year when this type of music is as widespread or popular.”
The holidays are a unique time where musical styles and genres seem to fade into the background, united by their common subject matter. As Hall explains, “the holidays are a feel-good time and singing makes you feel good. Every style of music works, because every style expresses that same joy.”
Hall’s sing-along will be equal parts lecture and performance. Not only will she lead Lunch with the Arts attendees in a series of holiday songs, she will also speak on each song’s composer and musical background, sprinkling in interesting and little-known facts along the way. The presentation is designed to help people understand the important role music takes in holiday celebrations and above all, get everyone into the holiday spirit.
Accompanying Barbara on piano is Centre College organist and Presbyterian Church of Danville Choir Director Jeff Jones. His talents are in great demand during the holidays, especially when he directs Handel’s Messiah at the Presbyterian Church and accompanies the numerous Centre College ensembles and choirs for their holiday performances. For him, this Lunch with the Arts presentation is yet another way to celebrate the season.
For Hall, this month’s Lunch with the Arts presents a unique opportunity unavailable the rest of the year. As she says, “There is nothing more joyous than singing with other people. There isn’t a way for people to gather together and talk all at once — it turns into meaningless noise. But when people come together and sing, every singer adds to the sense of community and fun and beauty. It’s like nothing else. One of the most important functions music serves is to make people feel good and connect them with one another. It’s so easy to do and share.”
About Hall
Hall has been at Centre College since 1980, where she teaches humanities, music history, music theory, and conducting. A lifelong music-lover, performer, conductor, and teacher, Hall finds as many ways to make and share music as possible.
She has a Bachelor of Music from University of Michigan, Master of Arts from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Doctorate in Music from Indiana University. Currently, she directs both Centre College and Danville’s choral programs, which includes Centre Singers, Centre Women’s Voices, Centre Men, Summer Singers, Sounding Joy, and Danville Children’s Choir.
IF YOU GO
Lunch with the Arts: Barbara Hall’s Holiday Singalong
Noon-1 p.m. Wednesday
Community Arts Center
$5 at the door, or $10 to reserve
a boxed lunch.
Reserve your lunch by 6 p.m. Monday at www.communityartscenter.net.
COMING UP
Jazzitude Jazz Band Rehearsal
7-9 p.m. Monday
If you are an experienced jazz musician looking for a place to play, this is it! For more info, email jazzitudeband@aol.com.
Exhibiting Artist Reception —
“New Year New Art”
6-8 p.m. Jan. 10
See the first artwork of 2013.
