A holiday favorite, Blue River Big Band Christmas concert is Sunday
(Talk of the Town file photo by Jennifer Zartman Romano) A tradition for many, the Blue River Big Band concert is slated for this Sunday, December 19. The band is shown below in 2009.
By Jennifer Zartman Romano
Christmas in Whitley County just wouldn't be the same without the annual Blue River Big Band Christmas concert.
The Blue River Big Band is gearing up for another annual Christmas concert this Sunday, December 19, 2010, at 7 p.m. at First Church of God in Columbia City.
"I don’t even know exactly how many years in a row we’ve been doing this," said band member Jason Klingaman. "I’ll have to figure it out sometime – I think it may be the 13th annual!"
Regardless of the precise number of years -- the highly anticipated show has become a must-see holiday tradition for a growing number of local residents.
Klingaman said that if you’ve ever been to their past concerts and enjoyed them, this year's show will not disappoint!
"We’ll be sticking with the same basic formula – lots of great big band Christmas music, a few sing-a-long carols so everyone can take part in the Christmas cheer and cookies, refreshments and lots of chit-chat afterwards," he said. "Many of the tunes that we’ll be playing you may recognize from previous years but, as always, we will be introducing some new ones, such as a version of “The Little Drummer Boy” as recorded by “Airmen of Note,” the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force."
The group will also be joined once again this year by vocalist Dawn Ward.
"If you’ve never heard a big band get its Christmas swing on then you really need to come out and hear us on December 19," added Klingaman. "There’s really nothing quite like it!"
As has become tradition for the Blue River Big Band Christmas concert, there is no charge for the concert, but in the Christmas spirit of giving, there will be a free-will offering collected for the local Delta Theta Tau chapter. The Delts utilize these funds to benefit a number of individuals and organizations in the area throughout the year.
By Jennifer Zartman Romano
Christmas in Whitley County just wouldn't be the same without the annual Blue River Big Band Christmas concert.
The Blue River Big Band is gearing up for another annual Christmas concert this Sunday, December 19, 2010, at 7 p.m. at First Church of God in Columbia City.
"I don’t even know exactly how many years in a row we’ve been doing this," said band member Jason Klingaman. "I’ll have to figure it out sometime – I think it may be the 13th annual!"
Regardless of the precise number of years -- the highly anticipated show has become a must-see holiday tradition for a growing number of local residents.
Klingaman said that if you’ve ever been to their past concerts and enjoyed them, this year's show will not disappoint!
"We’ll be sticking with the same basic formula – lots of great big band Christmas music, a few sing-a-long carols so everyone can take part in the Christmas cheer and cookies, refreshments and lots of chit-chat afterwards," he said. "Many of the tunes that we’ll be playing you may recognize from previous years but, as always, we will be introducing some new ones, such as a version of “The Little Drummer Boy” as recorded by “Airmen of Note,” the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force."
The group will also be joined once again this year by vocalist Dawn Ward.
"If you’ve never heard a big band get its Christmas swing on then you really need to come out and hear us on December 19," added Klingaman. "There’s really nothing quite like it!"
As has become tradition for the Blue River Big Band Christmas concert, there is no charge for the concert, but in the Christmas spirit of giving, there will be a free-will offering collected for the local Delta Theta Tau chapter. The Delts utilize these funds to benefit a number of individuals and organizations in the area throughout the year.