The UTSA Department of Music presents Winterlude a four-day concert series which features choral and instrumental student ensembles performing holiday favorites. Selections will range from the traditional to the contemporary; the sacred to the secular, all intent on creating musical merriment. Kicking off the 2012 edition of Winterlude on Thursday, November 29 is the concert entitled, “Holiday Fantasy” featuring the UTSA Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band and University Bands. The student ensembles takes turns on stage performing Santa’s Journey, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, O Magnum Mysterium, Ave Maria, Hanukkah Festival of Lights, The Bells of Christmas and Sleigh Ride among others under the batons of conductors, Charles Kuentz, Dr. Donald Miller and Ron Ellis, respectively. The concert begins at 7:30pm in the Recital Hall, Arts Building. Tickets are $10 and are general seating. Winterlude 2012 concert number two features the 200+ member UTSA Marching Band in a performance of encore pieces from football game halftime shows along with musical selections chosen especially for the season. Showtime is at 7:30pm on Friday, November 30 and will be held in the Convocation Center. Tickets are $10 and are general seating. The third concert in the Winterlude 2012 series falls on Saturday December 1. Dr. John Silantien conducts Gerald Finzi's seasonal masterpiece, In Terra Pax, performed by the UTSA Orchestra and the combined choruses of the UTSA Department of Music. Benjamin Britten's Ceremony of Carols will be sung by the UTSA Women's Choir, featuring San Antonio Symphony harpist Rachel Ferris, and conducted by Dr. Gary Mabry. The UTSA Chamber Singers, led by Dr. John Silantien, will perform Conrad Susa's Carols and Lullabies followed by the singers joined by brass and organ on Daniel Pinkham’s Christmas Cantata. The concert begins at 7:30pm in the Recital Hall, Arts Building. Tickets are $10 and are general seating. Winterlude 2012 concludes with the Messiah Sing-a-long, a concert that has fast become a UTSA Music Department tradition. This interactive concert offers concert-goers the opportunity to sing Handel’s masterpiece along with members of the different choirs accompanied by organ. Music will be available to check out for those patrons who do not have personal copies. The concert begins at 3pm in the Recital Hall, Arts Building. Tickets are $10 and are general seating. Tickets to the series are available for advance purchase at music.utsa.edu. Parking on the UTSA Main Campus on Thursday is recommended in the BR1 lot off of James Bauerele and UTSA Blvd in numbered pay slots. Parking for the concert in the Convocation Center is also on a pay basis in the Ximenes Garage off of UTSA Blvd and Edward Ximenes Blvd. Weekend parking on Saturday and Sunday is free of charge in unmarked spots in the BR1 lot or BK 2.