Temperatures may be cooling down but the IVCC cultural calendar is heating up with multiple events scheduled for the month of December. After being closed for the semester, the IVCC Cultural Centre will reopen after having had a new sound system installed. The project cost nearly $700,000 and updated the existing system.

The first performance will be the Illinois Valley Community College Percussion Ensemble, directed by David O’Fallon offering a free concert at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3.

That is only the beginning, as the Illinois Valley Community College Wind Ensemble, directed by Gene Montgomery, will offer a free concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7 in the Cultural Centre.

The afternoon performance will feature the Air Mobility Command March, American Overture, Prelude on an Old English Hymn, Harry Potter/Chamber of Secrets, Slavonic Dance No. 4, Bugler’s Holiday, and Sleigh Ride.

The ensemble includes IVCC students, local and regional music educators, and community members dedicated to the promotion of quality wind and percussion music.

In addition to on-campus concerts, the ensemble also performs at community festivals and events and works with other universities and community bands in joint concerts.

Also on the calendar, the IVCC Show Choir, under Don Zellmer’s direction and choreography, will cap the semester with a holiday musical at St. Bede’s Little Theatre Dec. 5 and 6 with “Jingle Bell Jukebox,” a fast-paced singing and dancing revue featuring traditional and pop sounds of the season.

The show will also feature holiday-themed comedy by the IVCC Improv Team, under the direction of Kuester, and the IVCC Choir, under the direction of Norman Engstrom.