38th Annual DON WE NOW Choral Concert

Windy City Gay Chorus and Windy City Treble Quire, under the direction of new Artistic Director, Dr. Eric Esparza, present two performances of their 38th annual Don We Now holiday concert on Saturday, December 3, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church at The Chicago Temple (77 W. Washington St., Chicago). Tickets start at $10 and are available at http://wcpaseason.bpt.me and at the door.

Don We Now features multi-cultural holiday favorites including Spirituals, carols, Hanukkah, and seasonal songs. New arrangements will be presented, highlighting classical, musical theater, and Broadway styles. To cap off the evening, audiences will be invited to join in the concert celebration via a sing-along with guest musicians!

Program Highlights:

· Chanukah Suite, by Jewish composer Jason Robert Brown

· Dormi Jesu, based on the short lullaby "The Virgin's Cradle Hymn"

· Hodie (Prologue), a cantata by Ralph Vaughan Williams

· Holiday Auld Lang Syne medley

· Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning, a traditional gospel blues song

· The Christmas Waltz, originally written for Frank Sinatra

· The Holly and the Ivy, a traditional British folk Christmas carol

Dr. Eric Esparza is the Director of Choral Activities and Vocal Area Coordinator at DePaul University. He conducts the DePaul Chamber Choir, Concert Choir, and teaches courses in choral music. Prior to joining WCPA, Eric was the Artistic Director and Conductor for International Voices Houston, United Nations Association International Chorus, and World Voices Houston.

Eric holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University in Houston, Texas; a Master of Arts degree in Arts Administration from Florida State University - where he served as a University Fellow and as the Assistant Conductor of the Florida State University Opera; and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting from Boston University. Eric remains internationally active as a singer, conductor, and music editor.

Celebrating 38 Lyrical Years, Windy City Performing Arts (WCPA) is Chicago's premier LGBTQ choral arts organization encompassing Windy City Gay Chorus and Windy City Treble Quire. WCPA celebrates diversity, honors creativity and cultivates pride through the transformative power of music and the arts.