Friday, Nov 13, 2020
A letter from Provost Fredeen
Dear Rider community,
When it comes to gathering with loved ones for the holidays, even under the best circumstances, we can all feel a little stressed.
That's particularly true this holiday season. With the coronavirus, we are forced to balance our worries and careful consideration for safety with our desire to spend time with our family and friends. As a result, each of us is going to have to be much more thoughtful as we go about reconnecting and recharging during what is always a very special time of year.
This fall, students, faculty and staff have had to put the same level of care into planning University performances, including annual holiday performances, which represent some of the most beloved traditions for the University and the surrounding community.
Despite COVID-19 restrictions, the Westminster College of the Arts is finalizing plans for performances that will be presented online in November and December. I’m very pleased that they will still take place for all of us to enjoy, even if the format is going to be different from what we’d normally expect.
I want to specifically mention the plans for Holidays with Westminster. Performances presented by Westminster Choir College’s ensembles in New York and Princeton have become holiday traditions for many music lovers. Westminster’s ensembles, students and alumni have worked to create a 50-minute video featuring traditional music, seasonal readings and stunning visuals. Holidays with Westminster will premiere on Saturday, December 12, at 8 p.m. at rider.edu/wccholidays and will remain online through the holiday season.
This month, Westminster Opera Theatre will present the world premiere of Ellen Fishman’s opera Marie Begins on November 20 and 21. Other performances include the musical Chasing Grace, presented by the School of Fine and Performing Arts from December 7 through 9, and It’s a Wonderful Life (a co-production of the Westminster College of the Arts’ theatre program and 107.7 The Bronc) presented as a 1940s-style radio broadcast from December 10-12.
I commend everyone who has used their creativity and imagination to push through the obstacles created by the pandemic so that these performances can be shared widely with the audiences that look forward to them year in and year out.
A full list of upcoming events and performances can be found at rider.edu/arts. Please support our amazing students and talented faculty by making time to enjoy these performances.
Thank you, and I wish everyone a safe, healthy and happy holiday season.
Sincerely,
DonnaJean Fredeen, Ph.D.
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs