Guests enjoy the sweet sounds of Holiday Jazz at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) on Dec. 10, 2024. The UAH Department of Music, Theatre and Film invites you to join the festivities at this season’s edition of Holiday Jazz on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025.
Michael Mercier | UAH
Preparations are in full swing for Holiday Jazz 2025 in the Department of Music, Theatre and Film at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH). Treats you loved in the past are on the list along with a delightful surprise or two, so get your tickets now for the festive talent showcase happening Tuesday, Dec. 9.
The party begins with cocktails at 6 p.m. and the concert at 7 p.m. in the Student Services Building Ballroom, Room 112, on the campus of UAH, a part of The University of Alabama System.
Dr. Joshua Burel, department chair and associate professor of music theory and composition; Dr. Jack Hontz, director of bands, and Amy Guerin, associate professor and director, Theater & Film, are among the UAH faculty members who made that list and are checking it more than twice as the holiday season fast approaches.
“It’s going to follow a similar kind of format as last year,” Burel said. “During the pre-show cocktail hour, we will have a student, Jonah Drach, playing light piano music. He’s been playing everywhere lately. He will provide original music along with light standards. He’s going to keep it festive for sure!”
The main event combines performances by UAH students and faculty.
“Our Jazz Combo is led by Josh Couts on guitar, with his students and Nick Walker on double bass,” Burel said. “They will do three sets interspersed with other performers like we had last year. We’ll have Melody Ng and her piano students doing their ‘Sleigh Ride’ rendition. We’ll have our Chamber Choir, Trombone Choir and a vocal quartet that will also accompany the Jazz Combo on one number.”
For Holiday Jazz 2024, Guerin and her students presented a scene from the play “Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley.” This year they’re offering a new twist on a hilarious holiday favorite from the theatrical world of “Greater Tuna,” the “third-smallest” town in Texas.
“Theatre will contribute a short scene from ‘A Tuna Christmas’ featuring student actors Matthew Brown and Brandon Price as the lovable hosts of Tuna, Texas’, favorite radio station,” she said. “Film will join in the fun by showing filmed holiday commercials from the town of Tuna, Texas, featuring the same student actors as community business owners.”
Tickets to Holiday Jazz 2025 are $25 per person. Reserve your spot on the Holiday Jazz event page on the UAH website.