The University of Miami Frost School of Music will present its holiday gala dinner, “Winter Wonderful,” on Sunday, Dec. 5, at the Hyatt Regency in Miami.
The goal of Winter Wonderful is to raise $100,000 for Frost School of Music undergraduate scholarships and the Frost “Music Reach” program. Music Reach is a partnership with the Greater Miami Youth Symphony, Arts for Learning, Communities in Schools, and the Harmony Project.
Currently in this program 29 Frost undergraduate students serve as mentors, each “adopting” two at-risk seventh graders and providing weekly sessions in music instruction, homework help, and team-building activities. The relations are continued for the entire four years of the Frost mentors’ undergraduate careers, with the goal of using music as a bridge to help at-risk students towards college.
Highlights of the evening will include a sumptuous three-course dinner and joyous holiday performances featuring a 200-member Frost Choral Union and a special Frost Holiday Orchestra. The repertoire will include holiday carols from traditions from around the globe.
Broadway alum Marcus Lovett, whose son, Dylan, is a Vocal Jazz freshman at the Frost School of Music, will be honored at the gala with the Frost Achievement Award and will perform selected holiday favorites. The Hon. Charles E. Cobb Jr. and Hon. Sue M. Cobb will be decorated for their philanthropy to the University of Miami and the South Florida community with the Frost Legacy Award.
“The Frost School of Music’s Winter Wonderful Holiday Dinner is simply the perfect start to the holiday season,” said Dean Shelton G. “Shelly” Berg. “It is a magical holiday gala filled with uplifting music performed by outstanding Frost musicians. It brings good cheer to new and long-time friends of the University of Miami and patrons of the arts in our community.
“Best of all, the gala proceeds go directly to support undergraduate music scholarships at the Frost School of Music, including our new Frost Music-Reach mentoring program that uplifts and encourages teens all year long to succeed in school and in life.”
The Frost Choral Union, 200 members strong, will perform as a unified choir and also as members of smaller ensembles including the Frost Chorale, Symphonic Choir, Chamber Singers, Cantilena Women’s Choir and Maelstrom Men’s Choir. Joshua Habermann will serve as music director for the entire evening, with assistance from Donald Oglesby and choral conducting graduate teaching assistants Rich Skirpan and Jeff Stern.
Marcus Lovett is an American performer whose Broadway stints have included The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables and Carousel.
The Hyatt Regency is located at 400 SE Second Ave. in downtown Miami. Winter Wonderful is a Black Tie event and festivities begin at 6:30 p.m. For more information or to order tickets, visit online at www.winter-wonderful.com, call 305-284-2875 or send email to eventsmanagement@miami.edu.
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