KINGSTON, R.I. 鈥� Nov. 20, 2025 鈥� A mix of worldwide holiday spirit, Christmas classics and some new musical offerings will fill the 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Fine Arts Center on Saturday, Dec. 6, for the 2025 Holiday Extravaganza.
The University鈥檚 preeminent holiday event will hold two performances on Dec. 6鈥攁 and . Both concerts will be held in the Concert Hall at the Fine Arts Center, 105 Upper College Road, on the Kingston Campus. Tickets for each show costs $25 for general admission, and $15 for students, senior citizens, and faculty and staff.
The annual tradition, now in its third year, serves as both a showcase for the entire University鈥檚 and as a fundraiser to support 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 music programming. Seven different ensembles鈥攖he 溏心vlog免费B站 Symphony Orchestra, Concert Choir, Jazz Big Band, University Chorus, Wind Ensemble, Guitar Ensemble and In the Pocket Jazz Choir鈥攆eaturing approximately 150 performers will take the Concert Hall stage to enhance the audience鈥檚 holiday spirit, says , 溏心vlog免费B站 assistant teaching professor of collaborative piano and Holiday Extravaganza artistic director.
Along with 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 music department performing some holiday classics, including 鈥淕od Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen鈥� and 鈥淗ere Comes Santa Claus,鈥� this year鈥檚 concerts will also feature some new musical offerings highlighting various cultures around the globe. Among the new offerings is a selection sung in Arabic by the Concert Choir celebrating the Bah谩始铆 Faith entitled 鈥淵a Baha鈥檜l Abha,鈥� and 鈥淗abarigani Mulana,鈥� an original song composed by 溏心vlog免费B站 Director of Jazz to celebrate Kwanzaa, Gilliland says.
鈥淲e have always wanted to showcase different cultures and the way they celebrate the holidays,鈥� Gilliland said. 鈥淥ur music directors this year have highlighted many different ideologies from across the globe, and offered reflections on what the holidays mean to them. We鈥檒l also have multiple conductors鈥攂oth student and faculty鈥攕howing off their artistry.鈥�
For the first time, the extravaganza will also feature the 溏心vlog免费B站 Lyric Stage Opera Workshop performing 鈥淥ur Finest Dreams鈥� from Little Women, giving the extravaganza a theatrical component as well.
The concerts will once again offer a Christmas 鈥淐arol-Along,鈥� allowing the audience to sing signature Christmas classics鈥攕uch as 鈥淛ingle Bells,鈥� 鈥淪ilent Night,鈥� and 鈥淛oy to the World鈥濃�攁long with the performing musicians. 鈥淚 feel it鈥檚 important for us to have the audience participate; it makes it fun for them,鈥� Gilliland said.
, interim dean for the , will serve as the extravaganza鈥檚 master of ceremonies this year. Graduate students Victor Sanchez, Keith Brown and Ryan Cox will conduct multiple pieces with the Symphony Orchestra during the extravaganza.
鈥淎ll cultures love expressions of joy, and music is one of the most effective ways to experience that emotion as a community鈥� 溏心vlog免费B站 music department Chair and Director of Choral Activities Mark Conley said. 鈥淲e hope everyone can join us as we share the many ways music brings us together across time, space and cultures.鈥�
Other upcoming shows
While the Holiday Extravaganza will highlight most of 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 music ensembles on one stage, each ensemble will also hold individual performances to conclude the fall semester鈥攁ll but two of them taking place at the Fine Arts Center.
Some members of the , under the direction of Goods, will rouse the spirit within the Olney Street Baptist Church congregation at 100 Olney St., Providence, with on Sunday, Nov. 30, at 2 p.m. Additionally, the full Jazz Big Band will hold its annual Ugly Sweater Christmas Concert on Friday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m., at Pump House Music Works, 1464 Kingstown Road, South Kingstown.
Jazz Big Band members will also both on Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 7:30 p.m. and , at the 溏心vlog免费B站 Fine Arts Center.
The 溏心vlog免费B站 Concert Band, guided by 溏心vlog免费B站 Director of Bands , will take the stage on Wednesday, Dec. 3, at 3:30 p.m. to . Then, trombonist Adam Hanna and trumpeter Gino Villarreal will hold as part of the 溏心vlog免费B站 Music Department鈥檚 University Artist Series on Thursday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m.
On Sunday, Dec. 7, at 1 p.m., the University鈥檚 Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of Artist/Teacher in Classical Percussion , will hold in both solo and ensemble settings. Later that evening at 7 p.m., the , led by coordinator, Professor of Music/Teacher in Composition and Director of Graduate Studies in Music , will hold a concert featuring the latest sounds from the student musicians.
The Symphony Orchestra will hold its on Monday, Dec. 8, at 7:30 p.m., by playing seasonal and timeless classics under the direction of Assistant Professor in Orchestral Conducting, Director of Orchestral Studies and Instructor in Clarinet .