GMC News

Christmas concert benefits local CISMBC Vaishali Patel The Union-Recorder The Union-Recorder Mon Dec 09, 2013, 08:00 AM EST MILLEDGEVILLE — Georgia Military College will once again serve as the host of the third annual outdoor community Christmas concert to support the mission of Communities In Schools of Milledgeville-Baldwin County (CISMBC).

The concert will feature area school bands and choirs filling the campus with the spirit and sounds of a traditional holiday season.

“We’re setting up 700 seats on Grant Parade, and people are free to bring blankets and walk around. Since it’s an outdoor concert, it has a festival feel to it,” GMC Fine Arts Director Mark Weaver said. “This is a complete community Christmas concert. With roughly 350 students in attendance, we’re hoping for a good crowd.”

The event is slated for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10 on Grant Parade at GMC. Admission is $5 at the gate.

“Santa will make an appearance, and it will snow regardless of the temperature,” Weaver said. “If it rains or the temperature drops below 30 degrees, the show will be canceled.”

With a backdrop of the Old Capital Building lit up in festive lights, this year’s concert will feature some new talent. Christmas carols and popular holiday songs will be performed by choir and band students from GMC, Baldwin High School, Putnam County High School and Washington County High School.

“We’re adding the Baldwin High School band this year since they weren’t able to participate in the past due to scheduling conflicts. We’re also adding the eighth grade Oak Hill Middle School band,” Weaver said. “Christmas music will range from sacred to popular holiday music to get everyone in the spirit. We will also have a sing-along with Santa.”

Also new this year will be special performances from “The Tale of the Grinch” by the Vibe Dance Center and “The Nutcracker” by Georgia College’s Department of Theatre and Dance. April Bragg, CEO of the Milledgeville-Baldwin County Chamber of Commerce and Walter Reynolds of Z97 FM will serve as hosts of the event.

“I encourage the community to bundle up and come out to support [CISMBC] and the students,” Weaver said. “These students put in a lot of hard work; this event is not their only performance since they also prepare for their own school and community shows.”

During the one-hour program, attendees can donate additional funds to support CISMBC, which will help provide Baldwin County students with school supplies and uniforms, as well as tutoring and mentoring opportunities.

“We are thrilled to be the recipient of any funds raised from the community concert at Georgia Military Concert. We thank [GMC President] Lt. Gen. William Caldwell, [GMC emeritus] Maj. Gen. Peter Boylan and [Weaver], who pulled all of this together,” Baxter said. “The funds raised help us finish out the school year. This is really a shot in the arm for us in the holiday season to get help from the community. This is a wonderful event and a great way to get into the Christmas spirit.”