USM Symphony Orchestras Holiday Choral Spectacular to Benefit Childrens Center

Sounds of the season will reverberate throughout the sanctuary at Main Street Baptist Church in Hattiesburg as The University of Southern Mississippi Symphony Orchestra presents its Holiday Choral Spectacular at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 6 and Thursday, Dec. 8.

In addition to the Symphony Orchestra, the special evening of music will also feature the combined voices of Southern Miss choirs and local choral groups from Petal Middle School, Sumrall Middle School, and Purvis Middle School.

“This is an event people look forward to all year,” said Greg Fuller, director of choral activities and conductor of the event. “It's a great way to kick off the season.”

After the stunning opening processional to God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, the concert will include holiday favorites such as “Christmas Is Coming, Angels from the Realms of Glory, Mary Did You Know, Children Go Where I Send Thee,” and “Joy to the World” to name a few. The featured work for this year is Randol Alan Bass's “Gloria.”

General admission tickets are $20 and a portion of the proceeds will benefit The Children's Center for Communication and Development at Southern Miss.

The holiday collaboration between the Symphony Orchestra and Children's Center has turned into an annual event that provides a rewarding payoff for both parties. Jay Dean, director of the Symphony Orchestra, said the Holiday Choral Spectacular would serve as the ideal Christmas gift.

“In this stressful social and economic time, I think it would be a great idea to give tickets to this event to friends and family so that those of us who have more than we need can help these children, their families, and spread holiday cheer far and wide,” Dean said.

The Children's Center, a United Way agency, is an early intervention program serving communicatively- and developmentally-delayed children from infancy through age 5. Direct services are provided to more than 70 children and their families from 18 counties in the state, while training university students in speech and hearing sciences and other allied health disciplines. School of Music students gain hands-on experience working with these children.

“Our friends at the School of Music continue to support us through this endeavor,” said Sarah-Case Price, director of The children's Center. “We are grateful to use it as an opportunity to kick off the holiday season while also sharing our story with a larger audience.”

Tickets may be purchased in advance from the Children's Center, 601.266.5222 or the Southern Miss Ticket Office, 601.266.5418, southernmisstickets.com. Tickets will also be available at door, but patrons are encouraged to get their tickets early is this event often sells out.