MU welcomes holiday season with community events

Manchester University is kicking off the holiday season with a week’s worth of events:

Tuesday, Dec. 1 – “Listening is the best gift you can give someone,” says Mary Lahman, who will speak about the art of listening well. Her presentation at the Fort Wayne campus is part of the Women’s Impact Project: Conviction in Action series and will help women take their listening skills to a new level. Lahman, an MU professor who teaches the listening-centered approach to communication, co-authored a textbook on the subject. The presentation is free. To learn more, click here. 
Wednesday, Dec. 2 – The Manchester University Bands Concert annual winter show theme is Blue Hour. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. in Cordier Auditorium on the North Manchester campus. Tickets are $5 at the door; free for MU students, faculty and staff. The concert features the Symphonic Band and Jazz Ensemble conducted by Scott Humphries.
Thursday, Dec. 3 – Manchester University is inviting the neighbors over to join students, faculty and staff in celebrating the season of giving with its Tree-Lighting Ceremony in front of the Jo Young Switzer Center. The Manchester Junior High School Choir performs at 6 p.m., with the tree-lighting by President Dave McFadden at 6:25 p.m. Santa will arrive on a firetruck at 6:30 p.m. All festivities are free. For more, click here.
Friday, Dec. 4 – A Service of Lessons and Carols worship service for the community is at Manchester Church of the Brethren. Expect an invitation to sing along, as the service blends traditional Christmas carols and hymns with lessons of the season. The program begins at 7 p.m. Admission is free. The church is at 1306 Beckley St., off Indiana 13. The performance features MU’s Cantabile conducted by Scott Avery and Chamber Singers conducted by Debra Lynn. The service will be preceded by a spaghetti supper to raise funds for the A Cappella Choir tour to New Orleans. It is 5:30 p.m. at the church: $12 for those 13 and older; $8  for those 3-12; and free for children 2 and younger; $35 for families of four, with $5 per additional immediate family member. The reservation deadline is 5 p.m. Dec. 2 at 260-982-5426 or music.manchester.edu.
Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 5 and 6 – Manchester Theatre Society presents The One Acts at 7 p.m. in MU’s Wampler Auditorium, 604 E. College Ave. It features Fourteen directed by Ben Miller, What Wall? written and directed by Bailey Short, Superhero Support Group directed by Sydney Brobst and World Wide Fans directed by Larissa Valdez. Admission is free.
Sunday, Dec. 6 –The Manchester Symphony Orchestra offers its Christmas show at 3 p.m. at Cordier. The show will feature selections from Handel’s Messiah and other great holiday favorites. Adults may purchase MSO $10 tickets at the door. Students younger than 18 and MU students, faculty and staff are admitted free. Soloists are Shelley Ploss, soprano; Rebecca Dengler Kaufman, mezzo-soprano; Benjamin Kambs, tenor; and Scott Avery, bass-baritone. The Manchester Symphony Chorus, the MU A Cappella Choir and Fairfield High School choir are also taking part. Conductors are Humphries and Lynn.

November 18, 2015