Nov 27, 2013

Sounds of the season will soar during free holiday concerts by College of the Mainland’s outstanding vocal and instrumental groups.
 
On Dec. 2 at 8 p.m. in the COM Fine Arts Building Recital Hall the COM Concert Band will showcase classic concert pieces and Christmas selections.
 
The concert, directed by Sparky Koerner, will feature the themes from “The Nutcracker Suite,” “Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” and “Winter Wonderland.” The band will revive “The William Tell Overture” (also known as the Lone Ranger Theme Song) and Frank Sinatra’s hits, “Ol’ Blue Eyes,” “My Way” and the peppy theme from “New York, New York.” The concert will conclude with “Jingle Bells Forever,” a triumphant march incorporating John Phillip Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever.”

On Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m., the COM Saxophone Ensemble will play instrumental selections at San Jacinto College-South. Directed by Tim Kochen, the ensemble will perform a variety of classics and holiday music.

On Dec. 6 the Mainland Chorale, the Mainland Singers and soloists will capture the spirit of the season with a free concert at 7:30 p.m. at St. Mary of the Miraculous Medal Catholic Church, 1604 9th Avenue North in Texas City.
 
Directed by James Heffel, the choir will sing “Missa Festiva,” the stunningly beautiful holiday Mass, and other holiday favorites.
  
On Dec. 12 at 8 p.m. in the COM Fine Arts Building Recital Hall, the COM Jazz Combos will showcase their improvisational skills and versatility with jazz masterpieces.
 
To open the concert, the 3 O’Clock Jazz Combo will perform different styles of jazz from swing melodies to funk songs to Latin-inspired bossa nova tunes. Pieces include Duke Ellington’s “Just Squeeze Me,” Herbie Hancock’s “Cantaloupe Island” and Charlie Parker’s “My Little Suede Shoes.”
 
The 7 O’Clock Jazz Combo will follow, demonstrating their technical skills with the engaging “On Green Dolphin Street,” waltz-like “Emily” and “Once I Loved,” a bossa nova with a beautiful melody recorded by Frank Sinatra in 1967. With its flowing chord changes “Just Friends” will conclude the evening of music.
 
For more information about COM’s free concerts, call 409-933-8348 or visit www.com.edu/music.