Editor's Note: This story has been updated.
CEDAR FALLS – The UNI Varsity Men’s Glee Club Christmas Variety Shows are always among the hottest tickets for the holidays.
This year, audiences have been disappointed to learn there will be no live shows because of COVID-19, but fans still can enjoy the glee club’s music and comedy on “Christmas Variety Show: The Live Album.”
John Wiles
“We came up the idea for a CD that’s like an old-fashioned radio show with pieces taken from previous shows and a virtual choir performance. It represents the variety show from the ridiculous to the sublime and everything in between,” said John Wiles, associate professor of choral conduction at the UNI School of Music, and glee club conductor.
The board considered performing a virtual show, “but our Christmas variety shows are so atmospheric, and without that atmosphere, it would seem too much like a Zoom meeting,” Wiles said. “While the CD doesn’t have all the magic of a live show, there is something charming about it.”
The 70-minute “Christmas Variety Show” is currently in post-production and can be preordered at unigleeclub.com for $12. A digital download also is available. There is a 16-page booklet included with each purchase.
Proceeds from sales will benefit the Northeast Iowa Food Bank.
“By donating to the food bank, we want to show the power of music to lift people up and inspire and make the world a better place, all important during this pandemic.”
Damond Jones said it came as a blow, particularly for seniors, that the Christmas shows were canceled. “It’s my last semester, but I’m excited to leave on a good note. The Christmas show is my thing, and it’s sad we’re not doing it on stage. I’ll miss selling tickets and putting on my tuxedo and going to sing, perform and laugh,” Jones said. He joined in his first year at UNI and this is his ninth semester. He’s also chairman of the club’s executive board.
glee club shows have been recorded for the last four or so years, and Jones is convinced listeners “will feel the joy of hearing this group of men singing, and you’ll get the Christmas vibe from the music, jokes and pieces from other Christmas variety shows.”
The CD will feature a new version of “The First Noel,” featuring the 70-member choir that was compiled from 70 different recording files. Singers recorded themselves individually singing the sacred carol on their cell phones. Peers made blind assessments of the recordings, offering critiques and suggestions. Singers re-recorded their parts before uploading a third file.
“Then I started layering it together, and it took hours. I wanted to make sure the tempos were the same, the notes in the same place and that when complete, it sounded like the choir singing together,” Wiles explained.
Members of the UNI Varsity Men's Glee Club have been singing together in a parking ramp on the University of Northern Iowa campus.
Practices took place on a revolving schedule with cohorts of about 14 singers in the Great Hall, masked and spaced 12 feet apart on the front row of the mezzanine. The rehearsals last no longer than 30 minutes.
“The only time we’ve been able to sing all together is in the parking garage north of campus. It’s open air, and we can be there for a half-hour, tops,” Wiles said.
Jones described that experience as “weird, but cool. Once we started singing, we could hear ourselves and it was great, it was wonderful.”
Cole Flack, a senior choral music education major and librarian for the glee club, said he’s glad to be singing together as a group. “I was ready to perform in my last variety show this year, but I’m glad we’re still singing together. There are still some precious moments I can take in,” he said.
“Even if the singing is not quite the same, the brotherhood of the club keeps it relevant. It’s been tougher to bond this year, getting to know the freshmen and everything. It’s been a huge learning curve that will ultimately put us in a better place make glee club stronger,” Flack said.
He laughed, then added. “Really, I can’t wait until I get retired and can talk about ‘back in my day, we sang in parking ramps and in one row of the mezzanine in the Great Hall at the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center.’ It will make a good memory.”
Fall felt garland
Fall felt garland
These instructions are for making a garland measuring 5 feet long.
Here’s what you’ll need:
-- 9- by 12-inch felt sheets in assorted fall colors (I used roughly 10 sheets of each of 4 colors for this garland. The number of sheets you will need depends on how long you want your garland.)
-- ¾-inch wide strong ribbon
-- Hot glue gun and glue
-- Scissors
Instructions:
Step 1. Cut each felt sheet in half along long side. Then cut each half into 4 equal parts (making 8 pieces from each full sheet)
Step 2. Cut each smaller piece into a simple leaf shape (See shapes below).
Step 3. Add roughly 1 inch of hot glue to center of leaf at the base end and pinch base corners together and hold for a couple seconds.
Step 4. Complete for all smaller cut pieces.
Step 5. Cut ribbon to desired length of garland
Step 6. Hot glue leaves to ribbon alternating back forth on opposite sides of the ribbon randomly using each color of leaf.
Step 7. Continue this process until the ribbon is full of leaves
Step 8 8. Adorn your favorite fall display!
Birch wood Christmas tree
Birch wood rounds provide multiple ways to adorn a Christmas tree with personal and colorful tree ornaments and create framed art, natural gift tags, a set of holiday drink coasters pr an advent calendar. Whatever the project, it can be done by anyone regardless of age or crafting experience.
Birch Wood Christmas Tree Framed Art
1. Purchase wood slices or have someone cut them from downed branches in the yard. (If you cut them yourself, be sure to let them sit out and dry out for a number of weeks.) The ones used in this project were 2.8 to 3.5 inches.
2. Paint each round however you would like. You can make them colorful or neutral. The number you paint depends on the size you would like your final piece of art – large or small.
3. While the rounds are drying, paint a piece of plywood to serve as backing. The size featured here is roughly 24- by 30- inches and is painted in Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan Pure White.
4. The frame is made from cheap furring strips stained using Chalk Paint “Dark Wax.” Once the back is dry, attach the frame pieces using 1-inch brad nails and a nailer. You could also use a hammer and brad nail. Just be sure to drill a pilot hole if you go this route. Attach a picture hanger on the back.
5. Lay the plywood down and rearrange the slices to your liking. Using wood glue, apply a nickel size amount of glue on the back of each slice and place it back down. The glue will not dry extremely quickly so you are still able to adjust them for spacing once all glued.
6. Let artwork sit for 1 to 2 hours to completely dry. You’re done!
Birch wood Christmas tree ornaments
Birch wood rounds provide multiple ways to adorn a Christmas tree with personal and colorful tree ornaments and create framed art, natural gift tags, a set of holiday drink coasters pr an advent calendar. Whatever the project, it can be done by anyone regardless of age or crafting experience.
Christmas Tree Ornament
1. Drill a ¼-inch hole near the edge of a wood slice.
2. Paint the slice however you would like.
3. Let dry and string a ribbon through the hole. Done!
4. You could also follow these steps and create a gift tag -- just write your “To: and From:” on it.
Oh what fun! Gift wrapping ideas
By adding creative touches to your packages and making them personalized, your gift recipients are sure to exclaim, “Oh what fun!”
Found objects
One method to create unique fun packages is to take a look around the house for small objects that may be useless, but interesting. Put them on a package and voila! We used buttons, an old red faucet, vintage Christmas cards, luggage tags, a child's stocking.
Oh, what fun! Gift wrapping ideas 2
Vintage Christmas tidbits
Bring back the nostalgia of past Christmases by digging in your old Christmas decoration boxes, searching on eBay, or shopping in a vintage/antique shop. They cost nearly nothing, but will be sure to get an extra smile. Bead garlands, vintage paper and ribbon.
Christmas branch
This sweet little Christmas branch with its dangling ornaments has a farmhouse theme. But it will have a whimsical touch in any setting.
Make our decorations — twig tree, gilded pine cone, paper heart, tree-in-ball and burlap ornaments, or use your own meaningful ornaments.
You'll need: Branches, twigs, twine, string and ribbon, paper (old books, sheet music, etc.) clear ornaments, burlap, mini bottle brush tree, glitter, gold leaf kit or metallic craft paint, white glue, eye hook.
Create a hanger for your branch with twine or ribbon. Tuck in a sprig of greenery.
Twig tree
1. Cut 14 twigs graduating in length from 2 1/2 to 7 inches (1/2 inch difference between each twig).
2. Cut length of string two arms length long.
3. Create loop for knot in the middle of the string; insert the largest twig. Double tie it tightly in place.
4. Create another loop; repeat with remaining twigs from largest to smallest, keeping knots onto to reduce twisting.
Paper heart
1. Cut paper: 2 strips 8-inches long, 2 strips 7 inches long and 2 strips 5 inches long, each 1 inch wide.
2. Cut 12-inch long piece of string or twine.
3. Fold twine in half. Place 5-inch paper strip on each side of twine, lining up ends. Add 7-inch strip to each side, then 8-inch strips. Paper strips should be even twine. Staple ends together in a crisscross shape, catching the twine.
4. Personalize it with glitter, if desired.
Tree in a ball: Use a dab of glue on mini bottle brush tree and insert into clear ornament. Wait a moment, then add fine glitter for a snowy effect.
Burlap ball: Attach burlap strips to ball ornament with glue, or use our pattern at www.Figandfrolic.com. Stamp any word on a ribbon and tie around center.
Gilded pine cone: Use leafing size to coat pine cone tips. Follow directions to apply gold leaf. Or use metallic craft paint instead. Screw a small eye hook into the top center. Add hanging string or ribbon.
Christmas-themed decorative stenciled pillows
Make your own Christmas-themed decorative stenciled pillows –by following these basic instructions:
1. Always make your finished pillow cover two inches smaller than the pillow form. Example: for a 20” pillow form, cut fabric into two 19” squares, allowing for a 1/2” seam allowance.
2. If you plan to stencil, do it before sewing the pillow. Use a paint that will be permanent on fabric to make sure they are washable. We used Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan, of course. Lightly swipe your paintbrush over the stencil to get faded look. Make sure stencil is centered. So easy!
3. Next sew the zipper, connecting two sides. Use an invisible zipper that is actually longer than your pillow. So easy to sew. Just follow directions, then cut off the extra tail of the zipper.
4. Make sure your zipper is open enough to get your hand through, then sew the remaining sides, right sides together. Clip the corners diagonally to reduce bulk. Turn right side out. Press.
Thanksgiving Mantel Magic
Get the look for Thanksgiving: We started with a stems of faux magnolia leaves, real tree branches and twigs, evergreen clippings, real pheasant feathers and bittersweet. Faux (you can use real) pumpkins are tucked into the arrangement, too. Decorative objects include tarnished silver pots and platters. The word “GIVE” has been stenciled on the blackboard. You can hand-letter the word or find and print a stencil from online sources.
A mantel is one of the easiest places to dress for the holidays. You can make a charming, seasonal statement for your Thanksgiving celebration, and with just a few switcheroos, transform it into a Christmas scene.
Don’t have a mantel? Make one – we did! This faux fireplace and mantel was constructed from a beautiful old door frame purchased at an auction. Boards, a porch railing and old fence create the structure and mantel itself. The bottom board is covered with a subtle wrapping paper that fits with either holiday.
A framed blackboard made from an old sofa-sized painting hangs above the mantel. These elements remain the same … it’s only the decorations that change to suit the season.
1. Decide on a theme and gather your objects and materials. Decide which will form the foundation of both Thanksgiving and Christmas motifs.
2. Layer for a lush look. Start with greenery or a garland and build from there, layer after layer, incorporating your favorite objects. Think three-dimensionally by jutting elements out or draping them away from the mantel.
3. Always have a focal point. Go whimsical, funky, vintage, sophisticated, natural, colorful – it’s up to you!
4. Look for balance, whether your design is symmetrical or asymmetrical. We think asymmetrical designs are more fun.
Christmas Mantel Magic
A mantel is one of the easiest places to dress for the holidays. You can make a charming, seasonal statement for your Thanksgiving celebration, and with just a few switcheroos, transform it into a Christmas scene.
Don’t have a mantel? Make one – we did! This faux fireplace and mantel was constructed from a beautiful old door frame purchased at an auction. Boards, a porch railing and old fence create the structure and mantel itself. The bottom board is covered with a subtle wrapping paper that fits with either holiday.
A framed blackboard made from an old sofa-sized painting hangs above the mantel. These elements remain the same … it’s only the decorations that change to suit the season.
1. Decide on a theme and gather your objects and materials. Decide which will form the foundation of both Thanksgiving and Christmas motifs.
2. Layer for a lush look. Start with greenery or a garland and build from there, layer after layer, incorporating your favorite objects. Think three-dimensionally by jutting elements out or draping them away from the mantel.
3. Always have a focal point. Go whimsical, funky, vintage, sophisticated, natural, colorful – it’s up to you!
4. Look for balance, whether your design is symmetrical or asymmetrical. We think asymmetrical designs are more fun.
For Christmas, remove bittersweet and pumpkins from the Thanksgiving arrangement. Replace with white twigs, more evergreens, pine cones, ornaments, etc. Change the blackboard to a Merry Christmas message and tack a trio of vintage Christmas stockings to the mantel. A red crepe paper rose at the corner completes the festive transformation.
