By Christine Powell

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“Collage,” an annual event featuring UK’s choirs and special guests, ushered in the holidays over the weekend at the Singletary Center for the Arts.

Featured in the 14th annual performance were more than 200 singers and musicians, including the UK choirs, UK Steel Band, GrassKats, UK Faculty Brass Quintet, the Lexington Singers Children’s Choir and more.

Audience members who arrived early were treated to a preshow concert featuring the UK Faculty Brass Quintet.

Jefferson Johnson, director of choral activities, and Lori Hetzel, associate director of choral activities, sent the audience into an event filled with both classic and modern holiday music.

“I’ve attended every year and I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Lauren Ferguson, a biology senior, said.

The combined choirs kicked off the event with “Adeste Fideles.” Musician Dieter Hennings appeared off to the side of the stage, shining in the spotlight, playing, “The Christmas Song,” on his guitar.

The Lexington Singers Children’s Choir reminded the audience of the magic of Christmas with their performances of “Jubilate Deo” and “Snow Carol.”

UK’s men and women’s a cappella groups also performed. Bringing a little jazz to the event was Paws and Listen, who performed “Christmas.”

The acoUstiKats’ singing of “O Little Town of Bethlehem” brought spontaneous clapping from the audience.

The UK Holiday Clarinets surprised audience members when they appeared unexpectedly in the audience, lit only by their music stand lights, playing “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.”

GrassKats brought laughter and cheering from the audience with their performance of bluegrass music and several references to the UK-Tennessee football game.

The UK Men’s Chorus performed with the UK Steel Band, their different styles becoming one in a unique and unexpected way.

“I love it, I love Christmas music,” said Jessica Green, a family science major.

Soloists Evan Johnson, Nick Davis and Jason Brown introduced “Bethlehem,” an audience favorite. The combined choirs, along with the UK African Percussion Ensemble, joined the soloists in the performance, a song that was unlike any of the previous numbers during the concert.

After a standing ovation, the lights went dark and the choirs concluded the evening with “Silent Night” under black lights that slowly faded away.