FAU Presents Several Holiday Concerts

'Messiah,' 'Madrigal Dinner' and 'Tuba Christmas' are on the Schedule. The Department of Music in Florida will present several holiday concerts. Handel's "Messiah" will be presented on Sunday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. in the University Theatre, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton campus. More than 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 $15 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 Saturday, Dec. 13 at 6:30 p.m., the Department of Music continues its holiday tradition in presenting its annual Madrigal Dinner. The dinner will take place at St. Gregory's Episcopal Church, 100 NE Mizner Blvd., 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 delicious succulent food and extraordinary 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. Following dinner, a concert of seasonal and madrigal music will entertain guests. Guests are invited to dress in period costumes.

Tickets for this event are $100 and include a $60 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. The Madrigal Dinner is sponsored by Madelyn Savarick.

Finally, on Saturday, Dec. 14 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. The tradition was started by Indiana University professor Harvey G. Phillips, and this will be the fourth annual presentation for FAU. This is an outdoor free event and audience members should bring chairs or blankets. All music concerts at FAU are sponsored by Wells Fargo and the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County. For more information, call 561-297-3853 or visit www.fau.edu/arts.