SPECTRUM SERIES PRESENTS PARAGON RAGTIME ORCHESTRA

The 34th annual Ashland University Spectrum Series begins by travelling back in time to the 19th century with the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra presenting their holiday program 'Round the Christmas Tree on Friday, December 6, 7:30 p.m. at Hugo Young Theatre.

This stylish and warm-hearted tribute to America’s Holiday musical traditions features favorite selections from the theatres, ballrooms, grand mansions and humble hearthsides of the Victorian era. The concert will include familiar Christmas songs and carols from their original 19th century scores, along with novelties including a ragtime version of the Nutcracker Suite and sparkling instrumental and vocal soloists. As a finale to the concert, the Orchestra accompanies a screening of one of the world’s first Christmas silent films from 1905 by Thomas Edison.

In addition to the main stage concert, the Orchestra's conductor Rick Benjamin, will present a free workshop on the history of early cinema and film underscoring on Friday, December 6 at 10 a.m. on the Hugo Young Theatre stage.  Benjamin, leading conductor of music for silent film with more than 600 screenings to his credit, will lead participants on a journey to the early 20th Century when downtown Ashland was home to several silent movie houses as the cultural center for all ages in the community.  

Area schools, senior citizen organizations and other groups are invited to a special 1-hour matinee performance of 'Round the Christmas Tree on December 6 at 1:30 p.m. Admission for this intergenerational matinee performance is $2 per person.  Reservations should be made directly with Tricia Applegate at 419.289.5950 to secure group seating.

Season tickets are now available for the entire Spectrum Series at the Ashland University Box Office.  Season tickets include admission to all three mainstage shows with at least a 20 percent discount to single ticket prices.  Season tickets for all three performances are: $28 for adults; and $23 for senior citizens, non- Ashland University students and Ashland University faculty/staff.  Single tickets are: $15 for adults; $12 for senior citizens, non-Ashland University students, University faculty/staff; $10 for groups of 10 or more; and $2 for Ashland University students with ID.

To purchase season or individual tickets, contact the Ashland University Box Office by phone at 419-289-5125, or in person in the lobby of Hugo Young Theatre located at the corner of College Avenue and Grant Street.  Hours are Monday through Friday, 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Tickets are also available on-line at www.ashland.edu/tickets where additional fees apply. 

APOLLO'S FIRE OPENS UNIVERSITY SPECTRUM SERIES WITH A CELTIC CHRISTMAS

The 2012-2013 Ashland University Spectrum Series opens with Cleveland's Baroque orchestra Apollo's Fire performing Sacrum Mysterium: A Celtic Christmas on Thursday, December 6, 7:30 p.m. at the Jack and Deb Miller Chapel.  Produced by the College of Arts and Sciences, Ashland University’s premiere Spectrum Series presents internationally recognized figures in the arts to enhance cultural experiences for the University community and surrounding areas.  The Spectrum Series is made possible with support from The Ohio Arts Council with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans, and the Ashland University Activities Budget and Chartering Committee.

Sacrum Mysterium is Apollo's Fire's groundbreaking new program that took Northeast Ohio by storm in six sold-out performances last year. Beginning with a Gaelic prayer, candlelight and a sacred procession, Jeannette Sorrell’s celebration of Celtic artistic traditions interweaves renaissance choral music with ancient pagan carols, folk dances and joyous fiddle tunes. A colorful band of bagpipes, flutes, strings and Celtic harp joins the exquisite Apollo’s Singers and the radiant Canadian soprano Meredith Hall.

In addition to Apollo's Fire's evening performance, they will present a Celtic music workshop with Irish flutist Kathie Stewart and hammered dulcimer player Tina Bergmann on Thursday, November 29, 12:15 p.m. to 1:05 p.m., in the Elizabeth Pastor Recital Hall.  Stewart and Bergmann will discuss the origins of Celtic music and its various instruments while demonstrating the music genre on their own instruments.

Tickets for the concert are $15 for adults; $12 for senior citizens, students, Ashland University faculty and staff; $10 for groups of 10 or more; and $2 for Ashland University students with identification.

Discounted season passes for the Spectrum Series are also available for purchase which include one admission to each of the three series performances of Apollo's Fire, Five by Design's Club Swing, and Eleone Dance Theatre's Ohio premiere of Dianne McIntyre's Up the Road a-Piece.  Adult season passes are $36 each; and senior citizens, students, Ashland University faculty and staff season passes are $28 each. 

All tickets can be purchased through the Ashland University Box Office at 419.289.5125, noon to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or online (additional fees apply) at www.ashland.edu/tickets.