November 23, 2009

Briar Cliff University Invites Public to “Cocoa and Carols”

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Briar Cliff University’s Department of Music will present the Fourth Annual “Cocoa and Carols” at 7 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 6, on stage in the Stark Student Center on campus. This free evening of holiday entertainment is open to the public.

“Cocoa and Carols” will feature the Briar Cliff Chamber Singers performing The Reluctant Dragon by David Grant and John Rutter. Dr. Sean Burton, assistant professor of music, and Dr. Mary Day, OSF, chairperson and associate professor of music, will co-direct the performance with staging by Diana Wooley of Lamb Productions, Sioux City. 

 “On one level, The Reluctant Dragon is a charming Christmas tale about a dragon that prefers writing poetry to fighting,” said Dr. Day. “On another level, it is an allegorical children’s story for grown-ups about prejudice and reconciliation.”   

The cast includes the “Dragon” played by Christopher Hanson of Sioux City; “Saint George” by Jon Konz of Adrian, Minn.; the “Narrator” by Bert Bucher of Plankinton, S.D.; the Master of Ceremonies by Alex Hoefling of Moorhead, Iowa; and the “Boy” by Lina Luangrath of Rockford, Ill.

Robert Gibson, Briar Cliff Jazz Ensemble’s director, will lead the Ensemble in a performance of Christmas favorites and standard jazz tunes by Bob Mintzer, Cole Porter and Lalo Schifrin. In addition to live musical performances, guests will be treated to hot cocoa and cookies. For more information, please call BCU’s music department at 712-279-5567.

Briar Cliff University is a Catholic institution with an enrollment of more than 1,100 students from 28 states. Students are educated in the Franciscan tradition of excellence in the liberal arts and career preparation in an environment of care and compassion. For more information, please visit www.briarcliff.edu.

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