Spreading holiday cheer

The University of Alabama School of Music hosted the 48th annual Christmas concert, “Hilaritas,” with an encore performance Sunday at Moody Concert Hall.

The first performance was held Dec. 8.

The show featured 16 performances by the Alabama Jazz Ensemble, Huxford Symphony Orchestra and University Singers.

Classics like "O Christmas Tree," "It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas," "Frosty the Snowman" and a holiday singalong of "Let it Snow" were featured along with some new music. Organizers say they try to do something different for "Hilaritas" every year.

The first Hilaritas concert at UA was performed in 1969 under choral director Fred Prentice. After a trip to Williamsburg, Virginia, Prentice saw the word Hilaritas, which was supposedly the name of a Greek goddess of joy, according to a news release.

Thinking the name would be a great title for a concert, he got together with Steve Sample, who was one of the founders of UA’s jazz program, and created a Christmas concert bringing together performers in the jazz ensemble and performers in what would later become the Huxford Symphony Orchestra.

More than 100 students performed in the weekend shows, with the concert hall decked out in a holiday theme and some of the students dressed as Christmas characters.

“For a lot of people in the community, the holiday season for them hasn’t begun until they see 'Hilaritas,' ” said Christopher Kozak, associate professor of music, director of jazz studies and one of the conductors of the concert. “What I like seeing is people enjoying the holiday classics and all the students who’ve worked so hard for them.

“It’s a family affair with good music and a good time.”