Despite the COVID-19 challenges A Baylor Christmas refuses to go away

A Baylor Christmas is one of the School of Music’s most important events of the year. Due to the epidemic, the university will not be selling tickets to a live Christmas performance this year, despite the fact that the event usually sold out when it drew in-person crowds. The School of Music, on the other hand, has established many opportunities for the Baylor community to participate with holiday-themed musical pieces.

Despite the COVID-19 challenges A Baylor Christmas refuses to go away

The 2019 recording of the program, according to Dr. Lynne Gackle, director of choral activities, will be broadcast on television this year. The TV broadcast was initially scheduled before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The program was previously shown once a year, but in June 2019, the university and the KWTX broadcast office agreed to broadcast it twice a year. “Music is a part of who we are as people, and it is unquestionably a part of Christmas – how can you not have music?” Gackle remarked. “This is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” The show is a tremendous operation, requiring the coordination of 325 individual singers and a 90-piece orchestra. Gackle further stated that the hour-long edit of the concert will not be the only one shown to media markets around the country. There was also a quick cut that could be played in a wider number of locations across the country. “[The 30-minute version] will be broadcast in even more markets. So, instead of 30 markets across the country, this will most likely reach around 80,” Gackle added.

The School of Music has created a landing website for the holiday event that explains how the film was released this year. According to the website’s description: “We had no idea our globe would be hit by the present worldwide pandemic. Unfortunately, there will be no ‘in person’ A Baylor Christmas 2020 for the first time in many years. However, we are thrilled to announce that beginning December 24th, KWTX will broadcast the A Baylor Christmas 2019 show locally and nationally through its Gray Entertainment markets!” During the holiday season, the School of Music is also giving a gift to the Baylor community by publishing ‘A Countdown to Christmas,’ a series of vignettes featuring a variety of Baylor performers. The School of Music will collaborate with Baylor Media to distribute the short videos, which will be released everyday from December 1 to 24.

The Countdown to Christmas, according to Dr. Stephen Gusukuma, director of Baylor’s women’s choir and VirtuOSO, is unique because it showcases the program’s range of talent. “There is so much music being made, and people rarely get to experience the breadth of what we do here at the School of Music… Gusukuma stated, “There are so many incredibly high-level and award-winning ensembles on campus that are just showcased less frequently in those big settings.” “It’s wonderful for folks to see a little bit of it this season,” says the actor. Despite the numerous obstacles faced by artists as a result of the epidemic, the school of music has continued to produce and distribute online content, with the Wind Ensemble performing on a livestream on Monday night. Dr. Gackle remarked, “You know a thing or two about musicians.” “They’re tenacious. Even in a pandemic, you can’t keep them down.”