​ Enjoy Student Music Group Performances This December at COD

The McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage will host several concerts featuring students and community members in December. All performances will take place in the MAC’s Belushi Performance Hall on the Glen Ellyn campus, 425 Fawell Blvd.

The DuPage Community Concert Band will perform at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2. Led by Director Terry Redford, the band will perform a variety of holiday tunes, including works by Victor Herbert, Philip Sparkle, David Lovrien, Patrick Roszell, Eric Whitacre and Robert W. Smith.

The COD Chamber Orchestra will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3. Under the direction of Philip Bauman, the orchestra consists of student and community members from high school to adult and performs both traditional literature for small orchestra/chamber music from the 1600s through the 20th century, as well as less traditional chamber orchestra styles including jazz, contemporary classical, theater and film music.

The COD Small Group Jazz ensemble will present two free performances at noon Tuesday, Dec. 3, and Thursday, Dec. 5. Led by Director Matt Shevitz, the ensemble performs a variety of jazz styles, ranging from classic to contemporary works.

The COD Percussion Ensemble will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 4, with special guests Beethoven’s Buddies, a handbell choir for students with special needs. Led by Director Ben Wahlund, the ensemble will perform holiday classics.

The COD Chamber Singers and Concert Choir join for a combined performance at

7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5. Directed by Lee R. Kesselman, the ensembles will perform works by contemporary composers Andrea Ramsey, Stacy Gibbs, Henry Mollicone, Sarah Quartel, Randall Stroope and Anders Chydenius. The program also features historical works by Naumann and Rheinberger, and Christmas carols.

The COD Guitar Ensemble will present a free performance at 2 p.m. on Thursday,

Dec. 5. The ensemble features acoustic and electric guitars and performs 20th century American music including blues, jazz, funk and classical arrangements under the direction of Steve Ramsdell.

Except where otherwise noted, tickets to each of these events are $7.

For more information, call the MAC Ticket office at (630) 942-4000, or visit: www.atthemac.org.

The Music program at College of DuPage offers the first two years of a baccalaureate music degree program, including coursework in theory and ear training, and a sequence of four class piano courses designed for non-pianists. The program offers associate degrees in music and music business and a certificate in audio production, as well as private lessons in voice, piano, guitar, percussion, and all band and orchestra instruments. Performing groups are open to all students regardless of major, and include Concert Choir, Jazz Choir, Chamber Singers, Community Jazz Ensemble, DuPage Chorale, DuPage Community Band, Chamber Orchestra, Small Group Jazz, Percussion Ensemble and Guitar Ensemble.