What began as a dream more than 10 years ago for two Brigham Young University choral directors will become reality this month when the BYU "Celebration of Christmas" holiday concert is broadcast across the country on PBS television stations.
Ronald Staheli and Mack Wilberg, directors of three premiere handpicked university choirs, have long wanted to share their holiday gift of music far beyond the 1,400-seat capacity of BYU's de Jong Concert Hall.With KBYU-TV heavily involved in marketing the concert since late spring, Staheli and Wilberg will get their wish as more than 170 PBS affiliates broadcast the festive concert as part of their holiday offerings.
Viewers should check their local PBS listings for times of the broadcasts.
Featured in the concert are the University Singers, an ensemble that performs throughout the world under the baton of Staheli; the Concert Choir and Men's Chorus, conducted by Wilberg; the world-traveled Philharmonic Orchestra, directed by Clyn Barrus; and the Women's Chorus, led by Rosalind Hall. The concert also showcases Ron Brough's Panoramic Steel Band.
The televised concert includes not only beloved and familiar Christmas works but also new and classic works. What emerges, according to Staheli, is a "visual and aural feast."
"A Celebration of Christmas" was produced by the College of Fine Arts and Communications and the LDS Motion Picture Studio with James A. Mason as executive producer and K. Newell Dayley and Tom Lefler as producers.
In addition to KBYU-TV, the celebration is also being presented by Bonneville Communications for the Missionary Department of the Church.
"This lovely, touching, inspiring concert comes across well because of the way it was filmed," Simmons said.
KBYU-TV also offered the holiday concert through the American Program Service, a distributing service for PBS stations across the country.
