Nothing gets the nostalgia pumping for the holidays like tunes inspired by the season.  Area residents can easily get their fill through various holiday music events and performances by the Barton Community College Music Department.
• Prairie Winds Concert – December 1
Barton Community College’s Prairie Winds Concert Band and Jazz Band, featuring members of the community, will present their annual fall concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1 in the Fine Arts Auditorium, titled “Home for the Holidays.”
Featured groups will be the Prairie Winds Concert Band and the Prairie Winds Jazz Band. The bands will present traditional Christmas selections such as “Carol of the Drum,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” and a montage of Christmas carols. Memorable songs such as “Moonlight in Vermont,” “National Emblem March” and “I Can’t Stop Loving You” will also be presented. There will be a feature performance by Marc Webster, Chase Penka and Taylor Lampe in Leroy Anderson’s composition “Bugler’s Holiday.” Barton Director of Instrumental Activities Steven Lueth will direct the concert.
• Jingle Bell Swing – December 5
Area residents are invited to kick up their heels at the Barton Community College Jingle Bell Swing big-band dance, with music provided by the Hilltop Singers and a 16-piece big band made up of area musicians from 8 – 10:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5 at the Great Bend American Legion, 1011 Kansas Ave.  
Tickets will be available at the door for $15 or $25 per couple.  Proceeds from the event will help fund the Hilltop Singers spring 2015 tour. This dance is sponsored by Cornerstone Interiors, Food Pride and Miller’s of Claflin.
• Holiday Variety Show – December 8
Christmas music is something almost everyone can relate to and often times creates a nostalgic glimpse into the memories of their childhoods. The Barton Music Department will take its audience down memory-lane and beyond as it hosts its “Holiday Variety Show” at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 8 in the Fine Arts Auditorium.  
“We know this type of music hits people a lot of different ways.  It’s sentimental and joyous.  It can be happy or sad in a reminiscent kind of way and it just brings about so many intense emotions than most other music does depending on people’s different personal experiences,” said Director of Chorale Activities Vern Fryberger of Christmas music and performances.
Fryberger said the performance will focus on several different types of performances in a unique format.
“Rather than just do a standard concert, we want this to be more entertainment oriented, so it’s designed as more of a variety show,” he said.  “We also want to give our students a wide range of experiences in performing in various formats.”
The concert will feature Christmas music performed by Barton’s Concert Choir, Hilltop Singers, and Barton Jazz Ensemble.   Special selections will include traditional sacred and secular Christmas music by each ensemble as well as several solos and duets.
Fryberger said he hopes community members will seize this opportunity to enjoy some great holiday-oriented entertainment.
“We think this show is a really good way to break into the whole holiday season and get things going,” he said.  “We’ve got some really talented students and community members and the audience will hear some really fine performances.”
Admission to the concert is $5 with all proceeds going to benefit the Barton Music Department.  Students will be admitted for free with an ID.