Empty Stocking Fund Benefit Concert Set for Dec. 10

A week after its beloved Noel Night, Performance Music at The University of Scranton will keep the holiday cheer going at its annual Empty Stocking Fund Benefit Concert on Sunday, Dec. 10. The concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the University’s Houlihan-McLean Center, Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue.

The event is open to the public, with attendees asked to bring either a new unwrapped toy, new piece of child’s clothing, new toiletry items (toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, comb/brush, etc.), or a cash donation. All donated items will directly benefit local families in need this holiday season.

At the concert, Performance Music student musicians will perform solo, duet, trio and small group renditions of a variety of Christmas favorites. The smaller groups are made up of members from within the large ensembles, and include Steel Drum Band, Tuba Quartet, Flute Trio, Saxophone Ensemble, Ladies Choir, Men’s Choir, a vocal quartet and solo vocalists, according to Assistant Director of Performance Music Janelle Decker.

The Empty Stocking Fund concert traces its origins back to 1999, when Director of Performance Music Cheryl Boga’s friend, Alan Drake, the former chairman of the music department at Georgia’s Augusta State University, told her about a benefit Christmas concert held there. Boga was intrigued, and Drake gave his blessing for her to bring the concept back to Scranton.

For the inaugural year, she and Drake waged a friendly competition to see which concert could raise the most money. Scranton won, and an annual tradition was born.

The concert’s charitable mission makes it particularly special, and Decker and Boga and their students are always moved when they see the donated items out on display the night of the show. Meanwhile, the performance itself never fails to produce an abundance of yuletide cheer – by the end of it, “you can really see people starting to feel the Christmas spirit,” Decker said. Audience members are encouraged to wear their Santa hats, reindeer antlers and other accessories of the season.

For those who are unable to attend the concert but would still like to drop off a toy or other donation, they will be accepted at Houlihan McLean Center on Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 6 and 7 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Jefferson Ave. entrance.

The primary focus of Performance Music at The University of Scranton is its student choral and instrumental performing ensembles. Because there is no music major at the University, all enrolled Scranton students – undergraduate and graduate – are eligible for membership in the University bands, choirs and string ensembles, with neither an audition nor enrollment fee required for membership. Hundreds of students participate in the ensembles each year.

For more information on the Empty Stocking Fund Benefit Concert, call 570-941-7624, email music@scranton.edu or visit the Performance Music website.