[bright string music] - Announcer: The following program is a PBS Wisconsin original production.

[festive orchestral music] - Narrator: A special holiday tradition... 350 performers take the stage for a memorable evening, celebrating the musical talents from the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire.

Recorded live at the beautiful Pablo Center at the Confluence.

[applause] Enjoy the sights and sounds of the season... with the 49th annual Holiday Concert from UW-Eau Claire!

[festive orchestral music] Funding for this program is provided by the Stanley Cottrill Fund, the Eleanor and Thomas Wildrick Family, the DeAtley Family Foundation, donors to the Focus Fund for the Arts, and Friends of PBS Wisconsin.

[Wind Symphony plays "Overture to a Winter Celebration" by James Stephenson] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [cheers and applause] - Dr. Stewart: We're very excited as far as the Music and Theater Arts Department goes.

This is the 49th annual Holiday Concert, here at the Pablo Center at the Confluence.

It's a great showcase of all the musical efforts across our department.

[soft orchestral music] This year, there are about 350 students between the Wind Symphony, the University Symphony Orchestra, and we have five choirs.

[singing] The students I think look forward to this each year, because it's the one opportunity where you get to have the two instrumental ensembles and the choirs together for the first time.

We all get really busy kind of living in our own band world or orchestra world, so they enjoy getting to hear each other.

There's a large respect for each of the ensembles, they appreciate each other, they're really supportive.

And again, it's just nice for us to be able to come together and celebrate kind of what we do across campus and for the community.

[The Singing Statesmen perform "Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow" by Undine Smith Moore] ♪ Rise up shepherd oh a rise up shepherd ♪ ♪ Rise up rise up shepherd and follow ♪ ♪ Rise up shepherd oh rise ♪ ♪ There's a star in the East on Christmas morn ♪ ♪ Rise up shepherd and follow ♪ ♪ It will lead to the place where the savior's born ♪ ♪ Rise up shepherd and follow ♪ ♪ Leave your sheep and leave your lambs ♪ ♪ Rise up shepherd and follow ♪ ♪ Leave your ewes and leave your rams ♪ ♪ Rise up shepherd and follow ♪ ♪ Oh rise and follow ♪ ♪ Rise up shepherd oh a rise up shepherd ♪ ♪ Rise up rise up shepherd and follow ♪ ♪ Rise up shepherd ♪ ♪ If you take good heed to the angel's word ♪ ♪ Rise up shepherd and follow ♪ ♪ You'll forget your flocks you'll forget your herds ♪ ♪ Rise up shepherd and follow ♪ ♪ Rise up and follow Him ♪ ♪ Rise up and follow Him ♪ ♪ Rise and follow follow ♪ ♪ Rise and fallow follow ♪ ♪ Follow the Star of Bethlehem ♪ ♪ Rise up shepherd and follow ♪ ♪ Rise up shepherd oh a rise up shepherd ♪ ♪ Rise up shepherd ♪ ♪ Rise up shepherd ♪ ♪ Rise up shepherd oh rise up shepherd ♪ ♪ Oh rise oh shepherd ♪ ♪ Oh shepherd ♪ ♪ Rise up shepherd and follow ♪ ♪ Rise up shepherd oh a rise up shepherd ♪ ♪ Rise up shepherd oh a rise up shepherd ♪ ♪ Rise up shepherd oh a rise up shepherd ♪ ♪ Rise up shepherd oh a rise up shepherd ♪ ♪ Rise up shepherd oh a rise ♪ ♪ Rise ♪ [cheers and applause] - Ho ho ho!

Ho ho ho!

[bike bells ring] [University Symphony Orchestra plays "Sleigh Ride" by Leroy Anderson] [bike bell rings] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [applause and whistles] [Women's Concert Chorale performs "All That Hath Life and Breath" by Rene Clausen] ♪ All that hath life and breath praise ye the Lord ♪ ♪ Shout to the Lord alleluia ♪ ♪ Alleluia alleluia alleluia alleluia ♪ ♪ Praise the Lord with joyful song ♪ ♪ Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving alleluia praise Him ♪ ♪ Praise the Lord with joyful song alleluia alleluia ♪ ♪ All that hath life and breath praise ye the Lord ♪ ♪ All that hath life and breath praise ye the Lord ♪ ♪ Shout to the Lord alleluia ♪ ♪ Alleluia alleluia alleluia alleluia ♪ ♪ All that hath life and breath praise ye the Lord ♪ ♪ Sing to the Lord a new-made song ♪ ♪ Praise His name alleluia ♪ ♪ Unto thee O Lord have I made supplication ♪ ♪ And cried unto the rock of my salvation ♪ ♪ But Thou has heard my voice and renewed thy weary spirit ♪ ♪ All that hath life and breath praise Him ♪ ♪ All that hath life and breath praise Him ♪ ♪ Praise Him alleluia praise Him alleluia ♪ ♪ Praise Him alleluia praise Him alleluia ♪ ♪ Praise Him alleluia praise Him alleluia ♪ ♪ Praise Him alleluia praise Him alleluia ♪ ♪ Praise Him alleluia praise Him alleluia ♪ ♪ Praise Him alleluia alleluia alleluia ♪ [vocalizing] ♪ All that hath life and breath praise ye the Lord ♪ ♪ All that hath life and breath praise ye the Lord ♪ ♪ Shout to the Lord alleluia ♪ ♪ Alleluia alleluia alleluia praise Him ♪ ♪ Praise Him laud Him praise Him laud Him ♪ ♪ Alleluia ♪ [cheers and applause] [Wind Symphony performs "Three Wise Guys" by Julie Giroux] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [cheers and applause] - Dr. John Stewart: The Pablo Center at the Confluence is in its sixth season here in Eau Claire.

It was a joint venture between the university and the public.

[group chatting] We were in on the ground floor, so to speak, with the planning and the design process.

There was a committee of faculty members from the university that were on the artistic planning with the designs of the buildings.

We could make sure that we have a multifunctional performance hall like the RCU Theater where this takes place works really, really well for acoustic ensembles like the bands and the choirs and the orchestras.

And they also do musicals here, Broadway shows, et cetera.

So for the university, it's been a huge asset for us, for our performances.

[bright orchestral music] And for our students, it's become like the professional venue for them as we're trying to prepare them to be professional educators or professional musicians.

They get this new state-of-the-art facility.

And we do about half of our performances a year across the department here in this building, and the other half over on campus.

[University Symphony Orchestra "Prelude to Act III from Lohengrin" by Richard Wagner] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [cheers and applause] [Novum Voce sings "Unclouded Day" by Shawn Kirchner] ♪ Oh they tell of a home far beyond the skies ♪ ♪ They tell me of a home far away ♪ ♪ And they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise ♪ ♪ Oh they tell me of an unclouded day ♪ ♪ Oh the land of cloudless days ♪ ♪ Oh the land of an unclouded sky ♪ ♪ Oh they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise ♪ ♪ Oh they tell me of an unclouded day ♪ ♪ They tell me of a home they tell me of a home ♪ ♪ Oh they tell me of a home where my friends have gone ♪ ♪ They tell me of a land far away ♪ ♪ Where the tree of life in eternal bloom ♪ ♪ Sheds its fragrance through the unclouded day ♪ ♪ Oh the land of cloudless days ♪ ♪ Oh the land of an unclouded sky ♪ ♪ Oh they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise ♪ ♪ Oh they tell me of an unclouded day ♪ ♪ Oh they tell me of a King in His beauty ♪ ♪ And they tell me that mine eyes shall behold ♪ ♪ Where He sits on the throne that is whiter than snow ♪ ♪ In the city that is made of gold ♪ ♪ Oh the land of cloudless days ♪ ♪ Oh the land of an unclouded sky ♪ ♪ Oh they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise ♪ ♪ Oh they tell me of an unclouded day ♪ ♪ Oh the land of cloudless days ♪ ♪ Oh the land of an unclouded sky ♪ ♪ Oh they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise ♪ ♪ Oh they tell me of an unclouded day ♪ [cheers and applause] [Concert Choir sings "Jubilate Deo" by Pietro Ferrario in Latin] ♪ Jubilate Deo, omnis terra ♪ ♪ Jubilate, Jubilate Deo, omnis terra ♪ ♪ Jubilate Deo, omnis terra ♪ ♪ Jubilate Deo, omnis terra ♪ ♪ Jubilate, Jubilate ♪ ♪ Jubilate, Jubilate Deo ♪ ♪ Jubilate Deo, omnis terra ♪ ♪ Jubilate Deo, omnis terra ♪ ♪ Jubilate, Jubilate ♪ ♪ Jubilate Deo, omnis terra ♪ ♪ Jubilate Deo ♪ ♪ Jubilate Deo, omnis terra ♪ ♪ Jubilate Deo ♪ ♪ Jubilate Deo ♪ ♪ Alleluja, allelujah ♪ ♪ Jubilate Deo ♪ ♪ Jubilate Deo ♪ ♪ Jubilate Deo ♪ ♪ Jubilate Deo ♪ ♪ Alleluja, jubilate ♪ ♪ omnis terra; Alleluja ♪ ♪ jubilate, Jubilate ♪ ♪ Allelujah ♪ ♪ Psalmum dicite nomini e jus ♪ ♪ Alleluja ♪ [ solo] ♪ Alleluja ♪ ♪ Psalmum dicite nomini e jus ♪ ♪ Date gloriam laudi e jus ♪ ♪ Date gloriam Date gloriam ♪ ♪ Alleluja, alleluja ♪ ♪ Date gloriam laudi e jus ♪ ♪ Jubilate, Jubilate, Jubilate, Jubilate Deo ♪ ♪ Jubilate Deo, omnis terra ♪ ♪ Jubilate Deo, omnis terra ♪ ♪ Jubilate Deo, omnis terra ♪ ♪ Jubilate Deo, omnis terra ♪ ♪ Alleluja, alleluja, alleluja, alleluja, alleluja ♪ [cheers and applause] [Choirs and Symphony Orchestra "Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah" by George Frideric Handel] ♪ Hallelujah Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah ♪ ♪ For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth ♪ ♪ Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah ♪ ♪ For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth ♪ ♪ Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah ♪ ♪ For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth ♪ ♪ Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah ♪ ♪ For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth ♪ ♪ Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah ♪ ♪ For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth ♪ ♪ Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah ♪ ♪ The kingdom of this world ♪ ♪ Is become the Kingdom of our Lord ♪ ♪ And of His Christ and of His Christ ♪ ♪ And He shall reign forever and ever ♪ ♪ And He shall reign forever and ever ♪ ♪ And He shall reign forever and ever ♪ ♪ And He shall reign forever and ever ♪ ♪ King of Kings ♪ ♪ Forever and ever Hallelujah Hallelujah ♪ ♪ And Lord of Lords ♪ ♪ Forever and ever Hallelujah Hallelujah ♪ ♪ King of Kings ♪ ♪ Forever and ever Hallelujah Hallelujah ♪ ♪ And Lord of Lords ♪ ♪ Forever and ever Hallelujah Hallelujah ♪ ♪ King of Kings ♪ ♪ Forever and ever Hallelujah Hallelujah ♪ ♪ And Lord of Lords ♪ ♪ King of kings and lord of lords ♪ ♪ And He shall reign forever forever and ever ♪ ♪ And He shall reign forever forever and ever ♪ ♪ King of Kings and forever and ever ♪ ♪ Lord of Lords Hallelujah hallelujah ♪ ♪ And He shall reign forever and ever ♪ ♪ King of Kings and Lord of Lords ♪ ♪ King of Kings and Lord of Lords ♪ ♪ And He shall reign forever forever and ever ♪ ♪ Forever and ever ♪ ♪ Hallelujah hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ [cheers and applause] [University Symphony Orchestra plays "Jingle Bells Forever" arranged by Robert W. Smith] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [audience clapping to the beat] [cheers and applause] [Concert Choir sings "Alleluia, For This Day" by Christopher Harris] ♪ ♪ ♪ Bleak and cold was the night that chilled ♪ ♪ Ignited and warm were the souls ♪ ♪ Filled with expectancy for the love ♪ ♪ The Love to come ♪ ♪ Bleak and cold was the night that chilled ♪ ♪ Ignited and warm were the souls filled ♪ ♪ Filled with expectancy for the love ♪ ♪ The love to come ♪ ♪ Love to which hearts succumb ♪ ♪ Fragile shoulders will burdens bear ♪ ♪ Small hands hold the world's despair ♪ ♪ Tiny feet will print our journey's way ♪ ♪ Alleluia, Alleluia ♪ ♪ Alleluia, Alleluia ♪ ♪ Alleluia, Alleluia ♪ ♪ Alleluia, Alleluia ♪ ♪ Alleluia, Alleluia ♪ ♪ Alleluia for this day, for this day ♪ ♪ Alleluia, Alleluia ♪ ♪ For this day, for this day ♪ ♪ For this day ♪ ♪ For this day ♪ ♪ Alleluia ♪ [vocalizing] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [cheers and applause] - Dr. John Stewart: When we did move to the Pablo, we've changed some things as far as the repertoire goes.

We've commissioned a new work by Kyle Newmaster, one of our alums from 1999, to write a new finale for us that just celebrates the winter seasons.

Kyle started working and found the poetry of Max Garland, who was a faculty member in the English Department, and at one point, Wisconsin Poet Laureate, and he settled on three poems and set those to music.

So it's in a three-movement suite.

[choirs and Symphony Orchestra play "Winter's Song" by Kyle Newmaster] Because of the stage size, we bring two of the choirs out into the audience, so it creates a surround sound effect.

From a musical standpoint, it's tricky to create balances from that being immersed.

It's, you know, like getting a warm hug from the music.

We've talked about that with the musicians in a couple of spots in the music, but the way that it surrounds you is just like this all-encompassing experience, which is really, really nice.

["Winter's Song, First Movement" by Kyle Newmaster] [vocalizing] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [vocalizing] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I'd settle for a paradise like this ♪ ♪ That kept falling apart and regathering ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And slowed time, faltered and hung ♪ ♪ Like the weight of grace, like the weight of grace ♪ ♪ Like the weight of grace on the houses ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I'd settle for a paradise that folded like a white book ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Over the scrawl of underbrush and twigs ♪ ♪ That simplified the landscape ♪ ♪ Absolving the roads of destination ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ A few birds tag along in a rich, gray wind ♪ ♪ The trees are pared to a minimal faith ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Isn't there already a place ♪ ♪ Where blessing and snow are the same word ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I'd settle for such a paradise ♪ ♪ That you could gather by the handful ♪ ♪ I'd settle for a paradise ♪ ♪ With the same cold knack the winter starts have ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I'd settle for a paradise ♪ ♪ That could be fashioned into a man ♪ ♪ However temporary or comical ♪ ♪ A cocked hat, a pair of ordinary stones ♪ ♪ A pair of ordinary stones for his eyes ♪ ♪ A paradise that nevertheless could spread its spindly arms ♪ ♪ As wide as the night was bitter ♪ ♪ As the wind was ice and whirled ♪ ♪ And swept and sang like a blade ♪ ♪ I'd settle for a paradise like this ♪ ["Winter's Song" fades] [cheers and applause] ["Winter's Song, Second Movement" by Kyle Newmaster] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Somebody turn down the sky ♪ ♪ In the linden ♪ ♪ For the sky is blue and mean ♪ ♪ And obscures the greater distances ♪ ♪ Where the universe whistles it ♪ ♪ Through the deep reaches of unmarked graves of starlight ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ The sky's brightness on this winter day ♪ ♪ The way the blue fills in ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Coronates and halos the branches ♪ ♪ Renders the linden a little ridiculous ♪ ♪ Like a skeleton with a hairdo ♪ ♪ All teased up and no place to go ♪ ♪ Except through the wind's hands ♪ ♪ Over and over and over and over ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Why not let bones be bones ♪ ♪ Or what's a tree in winter for ♪ ♪ Why not turn down the light of sky a notch ♪ ♪ Let the blue mind its on gaudy business ♪ ♪ And let this tree ♪ ♪ With its grip on frozen ground ♪ ♪ Shake beauty loose awhile ♪ ♪ Be stark and small and free of wanting ♪ ♪ Whatever wind moves through it like a will ♪ ["Winter's Song, Second Movement" fades] ["Winter's Song, Third Movement" by Kyle Newmaster] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I think the snow needs a little rest now ♪ ♪ I think the snow is tired of skating the borders of water ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I think the snow has heard ♪ ♪ Just about all he needs to hear ♪ ♪ Of the arguments of wind and ice ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ A little rest ♪ ♪ A good night's sleep ♪ ♪ A patch of lawn, a few cedars ♪ ♪ Maybe the slope of a porch roof ♪ ♪ Maybe even a beholder ♪ ♪ Someone to notice those first few tentative flakes ♪ ♪ I think the snow needs a little less strength ♪ ♪ A degree or two ♪ ♪ I think the snow needs faith enough ♪ ♪ To fall into nobody's arms tonight ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I think the snow should close his eyes now ♪ ♪ And let whatever he sees there ♪ ♪ Begin to happen ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [vocalizing] [cheers and applause] [cheerful Christmas medley] [cheers and applause] - Announcer: Funding for Holiday Concert from UW-Eau Claire was provided by the Stanley Cottrill Fund, the Eleanor and Thomas Wildrick family, the DeAtley Family Foundation, donors to the Focus Fund for the Arts, and Friends of PBS Wisconsin.