Salem, Va.-The Roanoke College Jazz and Wind Ensembles under the direction of Dr. Joseph Blaha will present its annual joint holiday concert Thursday, December 6, in the Olin Hall Theater at 7:30 p.m. The concert is free and open to the public. No tickets are required.

The concert will feature the Jazz Ensemble performing arrangements of such diverse tunes as Chick Corea's exciting "Spain," a jazz shuffle by New York jazz saxophonist Bob Mintzer and a very complex work influenced by the rhythms of India by guitarist Pat Metheny. There will be the usual salute to funk and fusion with Bill Liston's "Fall Madness" and a samba offering of the familiar "Tico, Tico" by Zequinha Abreu. The ballad for the evening will feature Roanoke College trombonist Samantha Sterba performing "Trombone Nocturne" by Clint Eastwood's favorite composer, Lennie Niehau.

The Wind Ensemble will open its portion of the concert with the fiery Spanish march, Amparito Roca, and then will follow up with the moving and powerful, Russian Christmas Music by the great American composer, Alfred Reed. Other American composers represented in this concert will include Aaron Copland and Clifton Williams in their respective compositions, "Hoe Down" from Rodeo, and The Sinfonians. The evening will continue with a concert suite of music from the holiday motion picture, The Polar Express, composed by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard. The Wind Ensemble will conclude with a special presentation of the popular tune from the movie that was not included in the concert suite, "Hot Chocolate."

In honor of that last song, the reception following the concert will feature Roanoke College's own Chef Bob's special hot chocolate (hot cider will also be served).

Roanoke College, the country's second oldest Lutheran-related college, is an independent, co-educational, four-year liberal arts college. Roanoke is one of just 276 colleges nationwide with a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's oldest and most prestigious honor society. The Princeton Review names Roanoke as one of the "best in the Southeast." Roanoke's 2,000 students represent 40 states across the U.S. and 26 foreign countries.

For additional information, call the Roanoke College Public Relations Office at (540) 375-2282.

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May 12 - 30, 2008

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