Holiday Choir Concert

Gregory Ristow, professor of music at LSC-Montgomery, holds the songbook for the college's December 7 holiday concert benefiting New Danville, a community where special-needs adults can live independently. Kathy Sanders, center, president of New Danville, and Dr. Tom Butler, president of LSC-Montgomery, are excited to bring this event to the community. It is the college's second annual holiday benefit concert.

This benefit concert was held for New Danville. All ticket proceeds and contributions were donated to New Danville, a self-sustaining, master-planned community designed for special-needs adults and those with related conditions such as autism or traumatic head injury resulting from strokes or accidents. The total amount raised this year reached $1700.00. New Danville representatives will add this donation to their fundraising efforts to purchase a tractor for the facility. 

The occasion marks the second year that LSC-Montgomery’s annual holiday concert has benefited a local non-profit organization. MORE>>>

To find out how you can help New Danville check out their website at www.newdanville.org 

On Thursday, December 7, at 7:30 p.m. the LSC-Montgomery Choirs and Willis High School Choir joined forces to perform selections from Handel’s  Messiah and a variety of holiday favorites to benefit the Cancer Center at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital.  The performance was held in the LSC-Montgomery Mainstage Theatre (Building D). All ticket proceeds were donated to Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital Cancer Center. The benefit raised $1500.00 for Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital Cancer Center.

The college is currently planning the next Holiday Choir Concert and will announce the next charity partner soon.

(Picture Left to Right) - Instructional Dean - Deborah Ellington, Director of Choirs - Gregory Ristow and Chair of Performing Arts - Dr. Earl Holt)

Holiday Choir Concert 07 Press Release Information
Lynn Whitehair, director of the Cancer Center, stated: “Memorial Hermann The Woodlands is excited about this partnership with LSC-Montgomery  and the Lone Star College System District. We have enjoyed our relationship over the years and are honored that they chose our Cancer Center as the beneficiary of this festive concert.” Whitehair also stressed the importance of this type of benefit for the community served by the Cancer Center.

“The Cancer Center at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands treats thousands of cancer patients each year, some of whom come from all over the country to receive the world-class care given here. We treat our patients like family, and the proceeds from the concert will enhance the care that we are able to provide them and their families.”

Gregory Ristow, director of choirs at the college, looks forward to the holiday concert every year, and more so this year with the benefit involving the Cancer Center. “Everybody knows the Messiah, or at least the Hallelujah Chorus,” said Ristow.  “But not too many people know that Messiah was written to raise funds for various charities, and every year until his death, even after he had gone blind, Handel directed a benefit performance of the work.”

“We’re looking forward to working with Willis High School and the Memorial Hermann Cancer Center on this performance,” added Dr. Earl Holt, chair of performing arts at LSC-Montgomery. “It’s so important to build these sorts of connections and to find creative ways to give back to the community.”

In addition to the Messiah performance, the program will feature a selection of holiday favorites performed by the LSC-Montgomery Choirs and Willis High School Choir.