PHOTO: “A Jones College Christmas” event will feature a Christmas Tree Lighting on the Plaza and Christmas program similar to the pictured Christmas performance in 2018 featuring Jones College students from JC Voices, JC Jazz, Touch of Gold dance team, and cast members of the 2018 Christmas Show with toy donations for the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program. Pictured in the center are the show’s hosts, Jingle (Landon Williams) and Bell (Coco Caldwell) along with Santa and his friends in the Jones College of Art, Music and Performance department along with a few of the toys collected to benefit the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Program.
ELLISVILLE – Jones College is inviting the public to celebrate the Christmas Season with a special event called, “A Jones College Christmas” on Thursday, December 2. Beginning at 5:30 p.m. the Christmas Tree Lighting will take place outside on the C.L. Neill Student Center Plaza with Christmas carols and performances from small ensemble groups and the Maroon Typhoon Colorguard.
Immediately following the Tree Lighting, vocal and musical performances by the JC Concert Choir, JC Voices, JC Jazz Band, Touch of Gold Dancers, the Percussion Ensemble, and a couple of special guests, will begin at 6 p.m. in the M.P. Bush Fine Arts Auditorium. The audience will be guided through the evening’s musical performance called, “Snow Place Like Jones,” by two, young actresses from Ellisville. Maddie Brown is a seventh-grader and daughter of JC Visual Arts Division Chair, Mark Brown and Julia Graham is a fourth-grader and the daughter of Michelle Graham, the JC bands’ woodwinds instructor and adjunct band staff. The kids will take the audience on an adventure discovering the joys of family and fellowship in the Christmas-themed program produced by the Assistant Dean of Jones College School of Art, Music, and Performance, Bruce Smith.
“We’re very excited as a department to be able to celebrate Christmas with the community after not having any Christmas celebrations last year because of Covid-19 restrictions,” said Smith. “It’s a real collaborative effort with performing groups in the Jones College School of Art, Music, and Performance, including JC students in the Music Industry program who have produced special music for the theatrical portion of the program. These students are also assisting Stage Tec with special lighting and audio.”
The Christmas program, “Snow Place Like Jones” will feature an evening of beautiful Christmas favorites like, “Mary Did You Know?” “Breath of Heaven,” “The World of Christmas,” and a mash-up of David Bowie and Bing Crosby’s “Little Drummer Boy” and “Peace on Earth.”
Admission to this special music and Tree Lighting event, “A Jones College Christmas” is a new, unwrapped toy to be donated to the Salvation Army in an effort to bring a bit of Christmas cheer for kids in the Pine Belt.
“We want to stress the purpose of our Christmas production is to provide toys for children who normally may not have much of a Christmas. We hope our local angels will be able to give a Santa filled sled full of gifts with a little help from our audience,” said Smith.
Gift suggestions include toys, sports equipment, board games and plush animals. All the donations will be given to children in our area this Christmas. Necessities and Christmas gifts are provided for disadvantaged children from infants to age 12, through the Salvation Army Angel Tree Program in Jones, Jasper, Wayne, Clarke, Smith and Simpson counties.
For more information, call the Jones College of Art, Music and Performance Office at 601-477-4203 or follow Jones College Art, Music and Performance Facebook Page and Twitter. For more information about the Angel Tree project, go to https://salvationarmyalm.org/
Members of JC Jazz
Dr. Ben Burge, Director
Alto Sax
Ethan Robertson, Columbia
Brandon Murray, Laurel
Eboni McDonald, Laurel
Tenor Sax
Sophia Gordon, Seminary
Jamie Anderson, Sumrall
Chris Hartfield, Petal
Baritone Sax
Sarah Beth McKellar, Vicksburg
Trombone
Brandon Broome, Sumrall
William Eaton, Oak Grove
Tootie Hunt, Wiggins
John Scott, Oak Grove
Trumpet
Tyler Broadway, Laurel
Reagan Thornton, Laurel
Angel Salas, Petal
Hunter Overstreet, Laurel
Rachel Hawkins, Pearl
Trinity Williams, Brooklyn/FCAHS
Summer Hughes, Enterprise
Rhythm
RJ Hughes, Laurel
Bonner Welch, Ellisville
Zack Gregore, Petal
Conner Smith, Mize
Jeremy Corley, Enterprise
Logan Whitehead, Sumrall
Members of JC Voices
Dr. Susan A. Smith, Conductor
Accompanist, Dr. Theresa Sanchez
Darcy Beech, Ellisville
Chicago Collins, Brookhaven
Savannah Greene, Sumrall
Madison Lanier, Laurel
Kambri Pippin, Laurel
Jalen Poindexter, Jackson
Mackenzie Lacy, Pass Christian
Anna Leigh Ragsdale, Magee
Jaylon Sims, Raleigh
Jacob Strickland, Ovett
Josiah Raine, Picayune
Emily Valentine, Taylorsville
Hanna Grace Wood, Laurel
Christmas Percussion Ensemble
Dr. Josh Frans, Director
Ema Hudson, Sandersville
Stevonta Mayfield, Waynesboro
Michael Arevalo, Pearl
Bonner Welch, Moselle
Michael DeCou, Jonesboro, LA
Logan Whitehead, Sumrall
Conner Smith, Mize
Christian Branch, St. Stevens, AL
Zach Gregore, Petal
Taikya Ducksworth, Taylorsville
Jordan Stianche, Petal
Tyler Nunn, Petal
Jeremy Corley, Meridian
Andrew Suttle, Petal
Chris Hartfield, Petal
Logan Evans, Laurel
Touch of Gold Dancers
Lora Davis, Director/Choreographer
Ivana Bishop of Waynesboro
Abbey Dodd of Petal
Morgan Breland of Ellisville
Erin Buckley of Gallman
Karlee Green of Laurel
MacKenzie Drinkard of Lucedale
Meg Matthews of Raleigh
Annalee Dumas of Petal
Madison Temple of Pearl
JC Concert Choir
Dr. Imguy Kang, Director
Dr. Victoria Johnson, Accompanist
Soprano
Natalie Dewitt, Laurel *
Bayleigh Hill, Laurel
Charity Miller, Brooklyn
Bralynn Newell, Newton
Anna Pickering, Laurel
Abigail Thrash, Laurel
Madison Windham, Mize
Ashley Allee, Oak Grove
Victoria Ball, Laurel
Sabrina Turner, Vinegar Bend, AL
Rachel Carlino, Waynesboro
Mackenzie Golemon, Moselle
Gracee Green, Laurel
Amberlyn Holifield, Leakesville
Destiny Lewis, Laurel
Abby Nix, Ellisville
Laiklynn Roberts, Waynesboro
Darcy Beech, Ellisville
Savannah Greene, Sumrall
Abigail Smith, Richton
Trinity Williams, Brooklyn
Kamaya Hutton, Hattiesburg
Alto
Sarah Ables, Laurel **
Virginia Fortenberry, Lawrence County
Lily Hendrix, Sumrall
Samantha Bishop, Florence
Hannah Manning, Quitman
Mackenzie Lacy, Pass Christian
Kathryn Hyatt, Laurel
Hannah Johnson, Laurel
Madison Lanier, Laurel
Bailey Rowell, Wayne
Molly Waldrop, Laurel
Natalie Walker, Laurel
Hanna Wood, Laurel
Annaleigh Ragsdale, Magee
Jennalyn Purvis, Petal
Payton Voge, Laurel *
Morgan White, Laurel
Jaelynn Peak, Foxworth
La’Lexia Murrell, Laurel
Kristen Jordan, Laurel
Tenor
Jaylon Sims, Raleigh
Michael Decou, Chatham, LA
Petara Jo’i Jones, Hattiesburg **
Jalen Poindexter, Jackson *
Josiah Raine, Picayune
Elijah Gray, Heidelberg
Jacob Strickland, Ellisville
Lazarius Shelby, Laurel
Bonner Welch, Moselle
Tellas Smith, Laurel
Wesley Carmical, Ellisville
Bass
Judah Capers, Laurel
Vincent Brown, Moss Point
David Ishee, Laurel
Alejandro Jarillo, Laurel
Donovan Williams, Laurel
Cameron Beech, Laurel
Cameron Glenn, Ellisville
Colby Marsh, Petal
Samuel Rodgers, Petal
Jarrett Darden, Seminary
Xavier Porter, Laurel
Marcus Sims, Laurel
Isaiah Spradley, Laurel
Damarie Windham, Laurel
Rayshawn Gamblin, Waynesboro
Jonah Holland, Ellisville*
Conner Smith, Ellisville
Dylan Waters, Laurel
*Section Leader
**Director’s Assistant