What better way to get into the holiday spirit than with a free Christmas concert from the music department at Texas A&M University-Kingsville?

Jones Auditorium, located on campus at 855 N. Armstrong, is the location for Fourth Annual Music Department Christmas Concert, benefitting Toys for Tots, Thursday, Dec. 3, at 7 p.m.

Admission is free, but concert goers are encouraged to bring new, unwrapped toys to be distributed to children in the community through the Toys for Tots program.

There will be about 175 students performing among eight different A&MKingsville musical ensembles. These ensembles include: Concert Choir, Combined Wind Symphony and Concert Band; Jazz Band I; Mariachi; Singers; Woodwind Quintet; Brass Choir; and the Combined Wind Symphony and Concert Choir. There also will be an “Audience Sing-Along” at the end of the program.

Musical selections include traditional Christmas carols, as well as new and clever arrangements of Christmas favorites. Musical selections will include:

O Magnum Mysterium, Carol of the Bells, Behelehemu, This Little Babe, What Child is This?, Riu, riu, chiu, S’Vivon, Christmas March, Fanfare and Hark the Herald Angels Sing (Mannheim Steamroller), The Night Before Christmas, Sleigh Ride, Silent Night (Mannheim Steamroller), Winter Wonderland, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, Here Comes Santa Claus/Santa Claus is Coming to Town Medley, the Hallelujah Chorus and more.

“The concert promises to be fun and full of Christmas spirit,” said Dr. Paul Hageman, Regents Professor and chair of the music department at Texas A&M-Kingsville. “We expect Jones Auditorium to be filled, so come early.”

For more information, call 593-2803.