By Emily Trosper
Seminole State College held its annual holiday concert Nov. 28, including performances by the Symphonic/Community Band and Jazz Ambassadors. Guests enjoyed popular holiday scores along with a visit from Santa Claus.
Not long after the doors opened, guests spilled into the hall creating a full house. Students, faculty, family, and members of the community of all ages sang along and tapped their feet to popular scores such as “Sleigh Ride” and “A Christmas Festival.”
Dr. James Smisek, director of the bands, entertained the crowd and gave a foreshadowing of a visit from the big man in a red suit and hat that evening.
The Jazz Ambassadors program, which included 24 musicians, opened the show. The performers all dressed in the holiday spirit with special sweaters, Santa hats and reindeer antlers.
The larger group of musicians in the Symphonic/Community Band followed. Some of those from the Jazz Ambassadors roster also took part in the last five songs for the evening.
It was during the Symphonic/Community Band’s program that the audience was entertained by Mr. Claus. He handed out candy to the crowd which had some laughing and children excited by this visit.
The Symphonic/Community Band is open for students and non-students of all ages to join. They have several concerts each year and is a group that has existed for more than 40 years. The next performance will be in the spring on April 24, 2018. Information about joining the band is available on the Seminole State website.
Seniors over the age of 60 years old are eligible to have their symphonic community band course waived once their waiver form is completed and accepted.
The next Jazz Ambassadors concert will be March 27, 2018.
If you missed the Nov. 28 holiday band concert, the show will air on Seminole Government Television (SGTV) starting in early December on Spectrum (Channel 498), AT&T U-verse (Channel 99) and CenturyLink’s Prism TV. It will also be streamed on the SGTV website.
