By JILL CRANDALL
This December many people will be coming to BYU to attend various Christmas concerts.
Traditionally, BYU’s more popular Christmas concerts include the Folk Dance Ensemble’s “Christmas Around the World,” the School of Music’s “Celebration of Christmas,” featuring the four audition choirs, and “Farley Family X-Mas,” a one-actor play.
This year, “Christmas Around the World,” sponsored by the Department of Dance, is celebrating it’s 39th birthday at BYU, according to a news release. The concert, featuring BYU’s international folk dancers, will include dances from various countries such as Mexico, Scotland and Lithuania.
Ed Austin, artistic director of the International Folk Dance Ensemble, flew to Toronto,Canada this year to research a Lithuanian dance called the “Pasuitpolke,” especially for this show, the release said.
Michelle Angell, 19, a sophomore from Keizer, Oregon, majoring in athletic training and a member of the folk dancing team, says the folk dancers are very excited to perform.
“Each folk dancing class has been practicing a lot and we’re all getting excited. It’s going to be a really fun concert,” Angell said.
Tickets are still available at the Marriott Center Ticket Office. The event will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Marriott Center Dec. 4-5, with a special matinee performance at 3:00 p.m. on Dec. 5.
“Celebration of Christmas” is the largest Christmas concert sponsored by the BYU School of Music, said Mack Wilberg, director of Men’s Chorus.
“A lot of people tell me they use this concert to kick off the Christmas season,” Wilberg said.
Kira Olson, 20, a junior from Mesa, Arizona, majoring in history teaching and a member of Women’s Chorus, said “Celebration of Christmas” is a great concert because it includes all four of BYU’s audition choirs–Men’s Chorus, Women’s Chorus, Concert Choir and University Singers.
“It’s really powerful because you have BYU’s cream of the crop singers all singing together. It’s my favorite concert Women’s Chorus participates in because of all the Christmas songs we get to sing,” Olson said.
The concert will start at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall in the HFAC Dec. 4-5, but Olson said it is already sold out.
“Farley Family X-Mas” is a one-actor play featuring James Arrington. Arrington says the play is unique because he represents various members of the Farley family putting on a Christmas program. The audience plays the part of the Farley family, watching their Christmas program.
“This play brings out the wacky side of Christmas. The Farley family is a goofy family that reminds people of their in-laws or their unusual next-door neighbors,” Arrington said.
Arrington encouraged all audience members to dress up in the Christmas spirit, because prizes will be given during the play for the best costumes.
“‘Farley Family X-Mas’ is a wonderful play for the entire family. It’s a funny play that will remind you of your own family,” Arrington said.
