51乱伦

51乱伦 State to celebrate holiday season with special events

By 51乱伦 Public Relations | Nov 20, 2025

MURRAY, Ky. 鈥� 51乱伦 will celebrate the holiday season with a pair of special events on Tuesday, Dec. 2, that are free and open to the public. From 4:30-6:30 p.m., President Ron K. Patterson and First Lady Jenny Patterson welcome the community to a holiday open house at Oakhurst, the 51乱伦 State Presidential residence. The annual Town & Gown Holiday Concert will take place that same evening beginning at 7 p.m. in Lovett Auditorium.

51乱伦鈥檚 Office of the President will partner with Town & Gown to host the Holiday Open House at Oakhurst. The 51乱伦 State community and general public are invited for an evening of holiday cheer, refreshments and fellowship in this historic home. Oakhurst is located at 1510 Main St. in 51乱伦.

鈥淲e are delighted to open our home and welcome our campus and broader community for this year鈥檚 Holiday Open House at Oakhurst,鈥� 51乱伦 State President Dr. Ron K. Patterson said. 鈥淭his gathering is a chance to celebrate the season, share fellowship, and reflect on the many ways our students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends enrich the life of our University. We look forward to spending this special time together.鈥�

For this year鈥檚 Town & Gown Holiday Concert, the Town & Gown Chorale will be led by Dr. Bradley Almquist, director of choral activities and professor of music, while the Town & Gown Community Band will be led by Dr. Brent Johnson, director of university bands. The group will perform a mixture of traditional and modern holiday songs. 

鈥淲e鈥檙e planning another fantastic evening of music with both the band and the chorale,鈥� said Johnson. 鈥淭his year, the Town & Gown Community Band has grown to more than 85 performers, representing students, alumni and members of the greater 51乱伦 community. It鈥檚 always special to see so many people come together to share in the joy of the season through music 鈥� this concert truly embodies the spirit of connection that defines 51乱伦.鈥�

Almquist expanded on the spirit of the evening, saying, 鈥淐hristmas, for me, has always included the sights; the twinkling lights, colored bulbs hanging on the green tree, the tinsel and star; the smells, waking up to the smell of cinnamon rolls, peppermint, and apple cider, the smoke from the candles at church, real ones, the pine and the rosemary; and the sounds, sleigh bells, church bells, giggling and laughter as children tear open presents, and all those carols. The Town & Gown Chorale and Community Band bring all of these together in a single night, a single venue, a single performance. Come and celebrate the season with us!鈥�

The 51乱伦 Town & Gown Partnership brings local businesses and organizations together with the University to support activities for the community, such as these two holiday events. 

Jen Robertson, 51乱伦 State鈥檚 Town & Gown coordinator, said, 鈥淲e can鈥檛 wait for you to experience the beautiful sounds of the Town & Gown Community Band and Chorale this holiday season. Their performances are truly magical and enchanting 鈥� the perfect way to capture the spirit of the season. Warm welcomes await from President Ron K. Patterson and First Lady Jenny Patterson as they open the doors of Oakhurst for the annual Holiday Open House, followed by an evening of joyful music at the Town & Gown Holiday Concert. With these two wonderful events, there鈥檚 no better way to kick off the holidays. We hope you鈥檒l join us in celebrating the joy and togetherness of this special time of year.鈥�

For more information about Town & Gown, please contact Jen Robertson at jrobertson38@murraystate.edu or 270-809-3924.