KU School of Music celebrates the season with 97th annual Holiday Vespers, KU Jazz Vespers
LAWRENCE — A favorite University of Kansas holiday tradition, the 97th annual Holiday Vespers, will take place Sunday, Dec. 5, with concerts at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Lied Center of Kansas. Pre-Vespers performances will be at 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. in the Bales Organ Recital Hall.
The Holiday Vespers will feature the KU Choirs, conducted by Eduardo García-Novelli, Melissa Grady and Dwayne Dunn; the KU Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Carolyn Watson; and the KU Trumpet Ensemble, conducted by Steve Leisring.
Both performances will include music by Coleridge-Taylor, Tchaikovsky, Burleigh, Thomas, Memley, Handel, Britten and more. The audience will have a show of both seasonal favorites and classical works. Repertoire highlights include the “Sleeping Beauty Waltz,” “Sleigh Ride” and the “Die Fledermaus Overture.”
The KU Jazz Vespers will take place at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Lied Center of Kansas.
The 2021 DownBeat Award-winning Jazz Ensemble I, directed by Dan Gailey, will be joined by special guest vocalist Vanessa Thomas. This Jazz Vespers performance will offer seasonal favorites featuring the popular Kansas City vocalist’s seamless span of five octaves and unique versatility.
This year’s performances are free through the generosity of sponsors Reach Out Kansas Inc. and the Law Offices of Smithyman & Zakoura. Tickets are still required and can be reserved in person at the Lied Center Ticket Office or by phone at 785-864-2787.
The KU Vespers' 7:30 p.m. performance Dec. 5 and the KU Jazz Vespers will be livestreamed via the Lied Center.