Empty Stocking Fund Benefit Concert Dec. 11
The Annual Empty Stocking Fund Benefit Concert with the Scranton Brass Orchestra, presented by Performance Music at The University of Scranton, will take place Wednesday, Dec. 11, at 7:30 p.m. in the Houlihan-McLean Center. The concert is open to the public, with attendees asked to bring either a new unwrapped toy, new piece of child’s clothing, new toiletry items or a cash donation.Less than a week after its beloved Noel Night, Performance Music at The University of Scranton will continue in the holiday spirit at its 23rd Annual Empty Stocking Fund Benefit Concert, this year featuring the Scranton Brass Orchestra, on Wednesday, Dec. 11.
This year’s 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.
Founded by Performance Music Conductor and Director Cheryl Y. Boga and University Professor Emeritus Hal Baillie, Ph.D., and now in its 12th season, Scranton Brass Orchestra is a fully professional 28-member ensemble comprised of brass and percussion players/teachers from across the region. Since its founding in June 2011, the group’s performances have been free and open to the public, and have featured nationally and internationally acclaimed guests, among them some of the most acclaimed brass players of our time. Some of the goals of the group include to provide high-level, large brass ensemble performance and listening opportunities, serve as an aural and visual model to aid in the tonal and technical development of student brass players and as a professional development resource for brass performers and teachers in the region, and give participating regional brass musicians and teachers opportunities to work with and observe masters of the art of brass playing.
The Empty Stocking Fund concert traces its origins back to 1999, when Boga’s friend, Alan Drake, the former chairman of the music department at Georgia’s Augusta 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 following year.
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 the Houlihan McLean Center from now up to and including the day of the concert from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (before the day of the concert, please use the Jefferson Ave. entrance. For additional daytime hours, please call first: 570-941–7624.
For more information on the Empty Stocking Fund Benefit Concert, call 570-941-7624, email music@scranton.edu or visit scranton.edu/music.
