December 4 is a Triple-header of Holiday Entertainment Starting with ‘Messiah Sing’
Georgetown, KY – Call Sunday (Dec. 4) a triple-header of holiday entertainment at Georgetown College. So, consider spending the late afternoon and evening getting in the Christmas spirit – “Messiah Sing” at 3 p.m. and Hanging of the Green at 6:30 p.m. (both free and in John L. Hill Chapel) and the original comedic play, “Merry Freaking Christmas” at 8 p.m. ($3 students, $5 adults, Ruth Pearce Wilson Lab Theatre).
The bi-annual “Messiah Sing” will be historic as the new Georgetown College Orchestra makes its debut. Directed by Dr. H.M. Lewis, the GC orchestra (with David Gierlach at the organ) will accompany the College’s Concert Choir which will be performing this particular event for the sixth time. Once again, the public will have the opportunity to join the choir on some of the choruses of Handel’s Messiah.
John Campbell, director of choral activities, is especially hopeful that alumni of the GC choir will attend and participate. “If they were previous choir members then they have learned the Messiah,” Dr. Campbell said. “These are choruses that students know and love, and alumni will get to see who had the solos that they had when they were here.
This year, Campbell is putting 10 singers in the solo spotlight, half of them freshman performing for their first time! This will also be the first performance for GC’s two male soloists, Daryl Toney and Landen Wilson, who transferred here this semester.
The GC choir will sing some of the recitatives and arias, then audience members will stand and join in on choruses like “And the glory of the Lord,” “For unto us a Child is born,” “Surely He hath borne our sorrows,” and – of course – “Hallelujah!” Bring that copy of Messiah that you have at home. If you can’t find it, a few old copies will be on hand, and/or you can look on with a Concert Choir member. Or just come and listen. Enjoy.
“Hanging of the Green” is a longtime GC tradition that celebrates the beginning of the Advent season. There will be a short service in Hill Chapel at 6:30 that includes the lighting of the Advent Wreath and decorating a Christmas tree with ornaments that represent every organization and group on campus. The Colleges two a capella groups – Tiger Tunistas (female) and The Georgetones (male) – will sing. The event will close with a candlelight circling on Giddings Lawn.
At 8 p.m. in the Lab Theatre, the College Maskrafters will stage “Merry Freaking Christmas” for the third straight evening (it also runs Dec. 9-11; call 502-863-8134 to reserve tickets). This collaboration of stories that began as a class project six years ago was put together by Dr. Ed Smith, who is also a member of the cast as a cameraman. It has been likened to skits on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live.” Smith said the play “shows what a freak show Christmas can be.”
Partnership for Successful Schools Celebrates 20 Years; Honors Founders and President
Georgetown, Ky. – In celebration of its 20th anniversary, the Partnership for Successful Schools (Partnership) today brought together more than 50 Kentuckians who had been involved in the organization’s work since it was formed in 1991.
Recognized during the gathering were John R. Hall, former chairman and chief executive officer of Ashland Inc., and David A. Jones, former chairman and chief executive officer of Humana Inc., who founded the organization along with Kent C. “Oz” Nelson, former chairman and chief executive officer of UPS, who was unable to attend. The event took place in the Richard and Karen Ward Room of Georgetown College’s Ensor Learning Resource Center.
To permanently recognize the contribution of the three Partnership founders, Georgetown President William H. Crouch, Jr., who serves as vice chair for the Partnership, announced that the auditorium for a new campus educational building will be named in their honor as the Hall-Jones-Nelson Auditorium.
Also recognized was Carolyn Witt Jones ‘63, who has been the leader of the Partnership since its inception. She was surprised with a beautiful, limited edition bronze statue by sculptor Douwe Blomberg.
Originally called the Partnership for Kentucky School Reform, the organization was created to support the 1990 Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA), the most sweeping education reform legislation inrecent United States history.
No. 3 GC Tigers Are Host to First Round NAIA Football Playoff Game Saturday
Georgetown, KY – Our undefeated (10-0), third-ranked Georgetown College Tigers have been awarded a first-round NAIA playoff game against Benedictine College (9-2) of Kansas this Saturday (Nov. 19) at Toyota Stadium. Kick-off is 1:30 p.m.
Tickets for the public are $10 general admission, $24 for bleacher-back seats and $30 for chair-back seats. They may be purchased in advance by calling Assistant Athletic Director Austin Sparks at 502-863-8222 or through The Store at 502-863-8134.
Georgetown is second all-time in NAIA playoff appearances. This will be the first time GC has been host to a playoff game since 2006, the last time Coach Bill Cronin’s had an undefeated campaign.
Exceptional Tubist Has 3 Solos in Fall Tiger Symphonic Band Concert
By Caitlin Knox ‘14
Senior Dewey Creech is set to entertain with "Tuba Tiger Rag."
Last chance to witness extraordinary tuba player Dewey Creech in the Hiil Chapel spotlight; first chance to hear the ragtime piece “Tuba Tiger Rag” in the long history of Georgetown College bands.
“It’s a fun piece. Definitely one of my favorite solos…you have to hear it,” said Creech, who’s been rewarded with three solos in Monday’s Tiger Symphonic Band Fall Anniversary Concert at 8 p.m. He’ll also play on “Suite for Tuba” by Donald Haddad and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Harold Arlen.
No wonder Director Pete LaRue selected the senior from Frankfort for such heavy duty. Creech, who also performs with the Central Kentucky Concert Band, was ranked second in the state last year of all college or university tuba players and named to the 2011 Kentucky Intercollegiate Band. Coming out of Western Hills High School in ’07, he was chosen twice to the All-State Band.
“His tuba playing is well known, his contribution to our Tiger Bands exceptional,” said Dr. LaRue, who will induct Creech as a “Gem Alumni” into the Tiger Band Hall of Fame that evening. This is a rare honor (it has been three years since the last Gem Alum) given to a member who has made a “transformational change” to the Tiger Band as a whole.
“I don’t know what I did to deserve it all,” said Creech modestly. But, in fact, he has been involved in the Chapel Brass for four years and the Symphonic Band and Pep Band for almost five years. He has volunteered to drive the van to all the road games the Pep Band plays and, according to his director, Dewey Creech is well loved by everyone.
Dewey will be graduating this semester, which means that this will be his last performance at Georgetown College. That it’s in John L. Hill Chapel has special meaning because he and his wife, Kaitlen, were married there.
An Accounting major and Music minor, he is considering pursuing a Masters in Business later on. A commuter most of his college career, he is looking forward to working closer to his Frankfort home and his and Kaitlen’s 5-year-old son, Calvin.
LaRue puts a lot of stock in the history and tradition of the Fall Anniversary Concert. This one’s the 167th anniversary of bands at Georgetown College, which continues as the oldest collegiate band program in Kentucky.
The band also has been long about cheer and charity, especially when their efforts can benefit the Georgetown community. They recently performed at Western Elementary and the Windsor Gardens Retirement Center. Also, admission to the upcoming concert is a canned food item. All items collected will be donated to the AMEN House – a 19-year tradition that will help the less fortunate for the holidays.
As the Holidays Approach, It’s Time to Laugh and Sing
The College’s John L. Hill Chapel always hosts a cornucopia of musical events at this time of year, but two in one day?! Take note: The annual SNATS Musical Parody Concert is at 11 a.m., Tuesday (Nov. 15) and a Beach Boys tribute band out of Columbus will entertain with “Surf’s Up” that night at 8.
Here’s the remainder of the performing arts schedule on campus for this semester. And, if you could use a good laugh, better order your tickets for the original comedy “Merry Freaking Christmas” soon! Our College Maskrafters will be putting YOU on over two consecutive weekends – Dec. 2-4 and Dec. 9-11 – in the Lab Theatre.
Nov. 15 – SNATS Musical Parody Concert. Student National Association of Teachers of Singing (SNATS) annual fundraiser to raise money for vocal competition entry fees. Professors from the Music Department present a wide variety of quirky musical styles, composers, instrumentation, etc. 11 a.m. John L. Hill Chapel. $2.
Nov. 15 – “Surf’s Up.” A Beach Boys tribute band out of Columbus, OH. A Foust Artist Series event. 8 p.m. John L. Hill Chapel. Senior citizens $8, adults $10, students $5.
Nov. 21 – Georgetown College Tiger Symphonic Band Fall Anniversary Concert. Celebrating the 167th year of Band at Georgetown, this event will feature works by Grainger, Margolis, Whitacre, de Haan and Sousa. Dewey L. Creech, Tuba, is the featured Student Soloist. 8 p.m. John L. Hill Chapel, Giddings Circle, Georgetown College. Price of admission is a canned or processed food offering for Scott County’s AMEN House.
Dec. 1 – Hanging of the Green. 7 p.m., This annual holiday service in Hill Chapel is followed by carols in Giddings Circle.
Dec. 2-4 and Dec. 9-11 – “Merry Freaking Christmas!” Georgetown College Maskrafters revive their irreverent look at one of our favorite holidays. 8 p.m. nightly. Ruth Pearce Wilson Lab Theatre, Mulberry & College streets, Georgetown College. $3 students, $5 adults. Tickets will be available through the College bookstore at (502) 863-8134, and at the door.
Dec. 4 – Georgetown College “Messiah” Sing. Combined choirs. 3 p.m. John L. Hill Chapel.
