Don't Miss Unforgettable 2015 Crane Candlelight Concerts to Kick Off Holiday Season

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The Crane Candlelight Concert is an annual tradition ushering in the holiday season at SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music.

• The Crane Candlelight Concert tradition dates back to the 1930s. Here is an image of Crane carolers singing around the statue of Minerva at the Potsdam Normal School in 1946.

POTSDAM, NY (11/27/2015)(readMedia)-- SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music will usher in the holiday season next weekend, with what is sure to be an unforgettable set of Crane Candlelight Concerts.

Don't miss the chance to hear the magic in person! All are welcome to be a part of the tradition at the 2015 Crane Candlelight Concerts, which will be offered on Sunday, Dec. 6 at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., in the Helen M. Hosmer Concert Hall.

Each year, the Crane Chorus and the Crane Symphony Orchestra come together to present a very special holiday concert which is taped live for a national syndicated broadcast by WPBS TV. Featuring more than 250 carolers and musicians from the renowned Crane School of Music, the performance is a major highlight of the Crane concert season.

"It is a thrilling experience to be joined by 250 talented musicians on the stage of Hosmer Hall for a musical experience unlike any other in the North Country. This concert, free to the public, attracts over 2,200 guests annually," said Crane Chorus Director Dr. Jeffrey Francom. "This year, we also invite concert-goers to bring one or more cans of food, which will be donated to St. Lawrence County food pantries."

The holiday concert tradition began in the 1930s at what was then the Crane Institute of Music at Potsdam Normal School, and has continued to grow in prominence over the years.

The 2015 Crane Candlelight Concerts will span the globe with an array of musical influences. Faculty member Jonathan Stinson, baritone, will sing the solo in Ralph Vaughan Williams' "Fantasia on Christmas Carols." The performance will also feature the Crane West African Drum and Dance Ensemble, guest student soloists and Professor Doug Rubio on guitar.

Another highlight will be "Stars" by ?riks Ešenvalds, to be performed with crystal water glasses. The final number, "Thou Gracious God, Whose Mercy Lends," by Mack Wilberg, will feature chorus, orchestra, organ and two bagpipes, for a show-stopping finish.

While both concerts are free, audience members are invited to bring a donation of canned goods or non-perishable items to benefit area food pantries. SUNY Potsdam and The Crane School of Music invite you to join us for this family-friendly event.

Want to experience past performances as well? WPBS Digital Television has syndicated three Crane Candlelight Concerts to present throughout the U.S. and Canada this holiday season. In the North Country, WPBS TV, which produces the syndicated broadcasts, will present past Crane Candlelight Concerts through four broadcasts in December.

The WPBS broadcast schedule is as follows:

• 2014 Crane Candlelight Concert, "Festive Celebration": Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 8 p.m.
• 2012 Crane Candlelight Concert, "Shimmering Light": Saturday, Dec. 12 at 8 p.m.
• 2013 Crane Candlelight Concert, "Around the World": Saturday, Dec. 19 at 8 p.m.
• 2014 Crane Candlelight Concert, "Festive Celebration": Sunday, Dec. 20 at 5 p.m.

To see past Crane Candlelight Concerts online, visit watch.wpbstv.org/program/crane-candlelight-concert.

The Crane Candlelight Concert evening performance will also be broadcast live on The Crane School of Music YouTube channel, at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 6. To watch these and other Crane concerts live online, visit www.potsdam.edu/academics/Crane/streaming.

For more information about SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music, please visit www.potsdam.edu/crane.

Founded in 1886, SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music has a long legacy of excellence in music education and performance. Life at Crane includes an incredible array of more than 300 recitals, lectures and concerts presented by faculty, students and guests each year. The Crane School of Music is the State University of New York's only All-Steinway institution.

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