Music student performances to brighten holidays

Published or Revised November 29, 2010

Splendid holiday music will soar for your enjoyment the first week of December, thanks to the Paris Junior College Music Department's Chorale and Chamber Singers. With free performances on Dec. 2 and Dec. 7, every music lover will find something to please them. Voice and piano students will culminate their fall semester with a recital on Thursday, Dec. 2, at 7:30 p.m. in the Music Building Recital Hall on the northwest side of the PJC campus. The students come from the studios of both Choir Director Philip Briggs, music instructor Jennie Vaughn and brass instructor Chris Kornegay. Piano students performing during the recital will be GLoria Cooper of Paris, Texas, and Emily Ashcraft of Honey Grove, Texas. Brass students performing will be Loren Burks and Caleb Moore, both of Paris, and Anthony Abruscato of Powderly, Texas. "We will feature vocal, instrumental and piano solos from their applied studies," said Briggs. "And Ms. Vaughn will accompany them on the piano. This concert is open to the public and we hope music lovers in the community will come and show appreciation for the students' hard work." The second concert celebrates the holiday on Tuesday, Dec. 7. "Carols and Candlelight" will be held in the DeShong Chapel, featuring the combined choirs of the PJC Chorale and Chamber Singers. "This will be a special evening," said Briggs. "We'll present a concert of seasonal music including works by Praetorius, Mozart, Barber and contemporary settings of traditional English and American carols. The beautiful chapel will be enhanced with candlelight to add to your experience." The PJC Chamber Singers will also participate in the general festivities on the downtown square on Dec. 4, sponsored by the Lamar County Chamber of Commerce, though the specific time is still to be announced. For more information, contact the PJC Music Department at 903-782-0341 or 0343.