Christmas Around the World. This holds true for my family and friends. Each year when the Holiday season approaches memories of the places that I've had the privilege to visit flood my mind. Not necessarily the places themselves, although they are beautiful, but of the people that have made an imprints in my life. On my birthday, I was reminded of how many people that I have had the privilege of meeting from various parts of the world. I told my wife, Michelle, that I was amazed that I had recieved birthday greetings from people of six of the seven continents on the globe. To me this was amazing ... and fun!
Having had the opportunity to have friends and family from various countries/cultures I have gained an appreciation and respect for not only our differences but our similarities as well. We all have certain traditions we uphold each year at the Holiday Season. As I thought through these the sounds and songs from these cultures began to fill my head with music. The different rhythms, chord progressions, and melodies of carols from around the world warmed my spirit.
I quickly decided that a concert sharing these songs was in order! When I presented this idea to my friend and voice coach, Carol Meyer Willingham, her first statement was "I'm in!" Together, we decided to cordinate a program of Christmas music from around the globe as a benefit concert to Toys for Tots organization. There will be songs from the United States of America, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Austria, Norway, Spain, Mexico, Italy, the Czech Republic, and South America. Each of these songs will be sung in the native language of the culture from which they are from. Our hope is that we can share a glimpse of Christmas from cultures around the world.
We are excited to be joined by Pedro Quirino, LPC on vocals and guitar, Susan Russell, piano and harp, and Scott Geiger, bag pipes. Especially excited to welcome the United States Marine Core and Toys for Tots Organization to the program as we raise toys for children in Central Texas. Thank you to the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Alumni Association for hosting and sponsoring this event.
Come join us on Sunday, December 8, 2013, at 6:00 on the campus of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in the Meyer Christian Studies Building - Manning Chapel. Admission is one new and unwrapped gift for boy or girl OR monetary donation for Toys for Tots.
