choir singing in Assumption ChurchThe Dec. 4 Festival of Christmas will see university choirs return to Assumption Church.

Concertgoers celebrating return of student ensembles

The School of Creative Arts invites audiences to experience performances by music student ensembles live and in person this weekend and next.

Proof of vaccination is required to attend in-person concerts, and tickets must be purchased in advance. Those who prefer may purchase a livestream ticket and watch from the comfort of home.

Three different student ensembles have performances scheduled:

University Jazz Ensemble, Robert Fazecash, director
Saturday, Nov. 27, at 7:30 p.m. at the Capitol Theatre, 121 University Ave. West.
Playing tunes from Johnny Mercer, Burt Bacharach, Van Morrison, Charlie Parker, John Lennon, and Paul McCartney, the Jazz Ensemble will be joined by vocalists Annessa DeBlais, Sabrina Novelletto, and Ken Wood from the studio of Shahida Nurullah.

University Wind Ensemble, Trevor Pittman, director
Sunday, Nov. 28, at 2:30 p.m. at the Capitol Theatre
The Wind Ensemble’s program offers a variety of themes including folk dances, music written during the Second World War for the 445th U.S. Army band, contemporary wind band, and even musical theatre.

University Choirs, Bruce J.G. Kotowich, director
Saturday, Dec. 4, at 7:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Assumption Church, University Ave at Huron Church Rd.
To celebrate the University Choirs’ return to Assumption Church — their first performance in the space since 2013 — the Festival of Christmas program includes excerpts from Handel’s Messiah with student soloists and is topped off with a performance of “Brother Heinrich’s Christmas” with drama professor Lionel Walsh as narrator.

“I am enjoying working with these musicians so much. We come together, learn great music, have fun and leave stronger for it,” says Pittman. “We are all super-excited for the concert and would love to share this music with you.”

In-person tickets are $20, with a student rate of $10. Jazz and wind tickets are available on the  Capitol Theatre website: or by phone at 519-973-1238, ext. 2.

Livestream tickets for all three performances and in-person tickets for the Festival of Christmas concert are available for purchase online on the SoCA website. Tickets must be purchased in advance and proof of vaccination must be shown at the venue.