Alva Review-Courier -

Northwestern Oklahoma State University Department of Fine Arts will present its annual Holiday Gala Saturday, Dec. 8, at 7 p.m. in Herod Hall Auditorium with the tree lighting ceremony to follow. Admission is free and open to the public. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

The Gala will feature the Northwestern Concert Choir, Chorale, University Singers, Symphony Band and Jazz Ensemble. The choir and band will join to perform a holiday sing-along to conclude the concert.

After the concert the audience is welcome to gather on the Herod Hall lawn where the choir will sing a small verse before Dr. Janet Cunningham, university president, performs the traditional lighting of the tree at the Bell Tower.

The music groups are under the direction of Karsten Longhurst, instructor of music and director of choral studies, and Michael Seth Cudd, instructor of music and director of bands.

Those attending the Holiday Gala also will have an opportunity to make a non-perishable food or monetary donation to the Campus Cabinet, Northwestern’s soon-to-open food pantry for its students and employees, prior to entering the auditorium.

Besides monetary donations, the campus food pantry is looking for “dorm-friendly” type non-perishable foods such as canned meat, soup, vegetables and fruit; peanut butter, jelly, cereal, breakfast foods, crackers, macaroni and cheese, rice or pasta, tomato sauce, ramen noodles, instant potatoes, box meals, single-serving foods and non-frozen microwaveable meals. Personal hygiene items also will be accepted.

Both Longhurst and Cudd said they think it will be a fun concert and encourage the campus and local community members to attend and show support for the choir and band members.