Illinois Brass Band offers expanded schedule of 'Holiday Classics' this year

The Illinois Brass Band, with music director Stephen Squires, have announced an expanded 2023 schedule of holiday performances.

The season opens at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9, as the 30-member British-style brass band presents "Holiday Classics" for the first time at First United Methodist Church, 100 W. Cossitt Ave. in La Grange.

It is a beautiful sanctuary that will let the sounds of brass shine as the band performs both sacred and secular holiday music.

At 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 16, the band is back to perform in the gothic sanctuary of Baker Memorial United Methodist Church, 307 Cedar Ave. in St. Charles, for its eighth year of "Holiday Classics." This well-attended performance has become a family tradition for many in the Fox Valley and is a band favorite.

Sunday, Dec, 17, will be an unusually busy day for the band. The band begins the day playing during the 9:30 a.m. service at First United Methodist Church, 1903 E. Euclid Ave. in Arlington Heights. The band will perform 15 minutes of prelude music prior to the service, hymns during the service and five minutes of postlude at the conclusion.

Additionally the band will perform its full length "Holiday Classics"concert at 2 p.m. in the sanctuary.

Each performance will feature the music and sounds of the season, along with instrumental soloists from within the band. Amy Bearden is the featured vocal soloist and song leader again at this year's performances.

These family oriented performances are sure to put the entire family in the holiday spirit.

Advance tickets are available through the band's website illinoisbrassband.org and at the door 30 minutes prior to each performance. Tickets are $15 or $5 for children under age 18, along with a family rate of $35 which includes two adults and up to four children.

The Illinois Brass Band is a recognized 501(3)c organization and is supported in part by a grant from the Illinois Arts Agency, a state agency.