“Sounds of the Season” will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday in the newly renovated Center for Performing Arts on Iowa Central Community College’s campus. Prior to the Thursday concert, the president’s annual holiday reception will be held at 6 p.m.

“There is a tradition of creating the festive holiday mood for everyone,” said Paul Bloomquist, instrumental music director at Iowa Central Community College. “The music, lights, and decorations add to the magic of the season. The Iowa Central students perform with passion and energy that shows in the sound. The newly renovated Decker Auditorium offers an amazing acoustical experience in addition to an overhaul in the physical space, and it’s always beautifully decorated.”

Iowa Central’s concert band will play a variety of classical holiday tunes, including “Festival Fanfare for Christmas,” and “Walkin’ Down Christmas Lane,” while also introducing the audience to composer Rossano Galante with the song “Tempest of the Oceans.”

“While ‘Tempest of the Oceans’ is not connected to the holidays at all, through our rehearsals, the biblical Christmas story revealed itself in the music,” said Bloomquist. “Galante is educated in the style of movie score that lends to the programmatic nature of the music.”

Iowa Central’s jazz band will also be featured with the “Swing March from the Nutcracker Suite,” “Silver Bells,” “Blue Christmas, Minnie the Moocher,” and “Winter Wonderland.”

“Be prepared for the jazz band,” said Noah Griswold, a member of the jazz band. “There are no pauses between any of the songs in this high energy set.”

The Iowa Central choirs, under the direction of Will Lopes, will feature performances by the Triton Singers, Pop Voices, Vocal Jazz, and Encore Singers with holiday favorites “Carol of the Bells,” “Where Are You Christmas?” and “Sing Noel.”

“Be ready to see a spectacular winter concert,” said Haevyn Myers, freshman at Iowa Central. “It’ll really get you into the holiday cheer. With the abundance of high energy and enjoyable songs, everyone is bound to love it!”

“There is the feeling of joy and wonderment that comes with the holidays,” added Bloomquist. “In addition to the traditional songs you might expect to hear, there will be some songs that reflect the season — without being an all-out Christmas song.”

The Sounds of the Season concert will also be a farewell performance for Lopes as he takes another direction in his musical adventure and will be leaving Iowa Central at the end of the calendar year.

If you go

What: “Sounds of the Season,” Iowa Central holiday concert

When: 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday

Where: Decker Auditorium, Iowa Central Community College