BOCA RATON – The department of music in Florida Atlantic University’s Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters will present several holiday concerts.
Handel’s “Messiah” will be presented Sunday, Dec. 2 at 3 p.m. in the University Theatre on FAU’s Boca Raton campus. 270 years since it premiered, the “Messiah” remains one of the most popular holiday musical traditions ever. The concert will be presented by FAU student and alumni choral groups. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased by visiting www.fauevents.com, by calling 1-800-564-9539, or at the box office in the Student Union on FAU’s Boca Raton campus.
Then, on Sunday, December 9 at 6 p.m., the department of music continues its holiday tradition in presenting the second annual Madrigal Dinner at St. Jude Parish Life Center, 21689 Toledo Road, Boca Raton. The event reflects a Renaissance evening full of pageantry and entertainment, including a court jester, wandering minstrels and other characters as well as food and music. The dinner is modeled after the feasts of the Renaissance when lords and ladies of large manors would prepare huge holiday celebrations.
Following a cocktail hour, guests will be invited into the dining room and seated at their tables. The king and queen will then enter the room, leading a procession of their noble guests, which will include FAU’s madrigal singers, costumed true to the period. A full-course meal will be served with instrumental fanfares announcing meal courses and events.
After dinner, a concert of seasonal and madrigal music will entertain guests. Tickets for this event are $100 and include a $70 tax-deductible donation to the Department of Music. Reservations for the dinner can be made by calling 561-297-2337 or visiting fauf.fau.edu/madrigal.
Finally, on Saturday, Dec. 15 at 5 p.m., Sean Murray will lead FAU’s tuba and euphonium players in a Tuba Christmas celebration. This will take place at Mizner Park in Boca Raton. This tradition was started by Indiana University Professor Harvey G. Phillips, and this will be the third annual presentation for FAU.
This is an outdoor free event and audience members should bring chairs or blankets. More information on this and all music events at FAU can be found at www.fau.edu/sota or by calling 561-297-3853.
The Madrigal Dinner is sponsored by Madelyn Savarick and all music concerts at FAU are sponsored by Wells Fargo and the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County.