More than 1,300 people attended the Upper Columbia Academy's annual Christmas concert Dec. 15, 2007, held this year in the Fox Theater in Spokane, Wash. The performance, Gloria, featured the concert band and various instrument ensembles, the full choir and the school's two special choirs: Choraliers and Octet. Joined by the audience and the organ, the concert concluded with a performance of O Come All Ye Faithful.
"What a privilege for us to have the opportunity to perform at the Fox Theater," says Dean Kravig, band director. "It was a chance to reach the Spokane community through music, and for many students, it was the first time they had performed in a professional concert hall."
The Fox Theater has been called "Spokane's equivalent of New York's Carnegie Hall" and was originally built as a movie theater in 1931. It was Spokane's pride and joy, a masterpiece of architecture and décor, whose stage was graced by even Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby. In 2005 a $31 million restoration project was launched, and in November 2007, just one month before the concert, Fox celebrated its grand reopening.
The evening was a success in more ways than just musical excellence. Fox employees were impressed with the students' Christ-like attitudes. The academy plans to return to Fox for next year's concert.
Upper Columbia Academy performs at Spokane's Fox Theater.
(Scott North)
