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    Minnesota

    Mayo Clinic Announces Three Performances in December for the Rosemary and Meredith Willson Harmony for Mayo Program

ROCHESTER, Minn. — The public is invited to enjoy three Rosemary and Meredith Willson Harmony for Mayo Program concerts in December. Performances will be on Mondays from 12:10 to 1 p.m.

The schedule is:

Dec. 3: Maud Hixson will perform a jazz concert in Barbara Woodward Lips Atrium, subway level, Rochester Methodist Hospital, Charlton Building, 10 Third Ave. NW. A native of St. Louis Park, Minn., Hixson was named "Best New Voice" at the KBEM Winter Jazz Fest in 2003. She has worked with the JazzMN Big Band and artists such as Warren Vaché, John Weber and Evan Christopher. Last year, she performed for the Cabaret Convention 2011 at Lincoln Center's Rose Hall. She will be accompanied by Rick Carlson on piano.

Dec. 10: The Choral Arts Ensemble will perform selections from the 28th annual "Christmas at Assisi" concert in Hage Atrium, subway level, Siebens Medical Education Building, 100 Second Ave. SW. Led by Artistic Director Rick Kvam, Choral Arts Ensemble is dedicated to the creation and performance of exciting new music as well as the presentation of masterworks from the Renaissance to the 20th century. At this concert, the Choral Arts Ensemble will sing old and new seasonal treasures, in addition to the premiere of this year's "Lloyd Ketterling Christmas Carol" and David Dickau's setting of "Love Came Down at Christmas." The audience will have an opportunity to collaborate on David Willcocks' masterful arrangements of traditional carols.

Dec. 17: Billy McLaughlin will perform an acoustic guitar concert in Lips Atrium. McLaughlin gained stature as an outstanding and innovative guitar performer in the 1980s, using techniques such as "hammer-ons" and "pull off" that create a harp like effect on the acoustic guitar. He signed with Virgin Records label Narada in 1995, and produced his first album, "Fingerdance," which peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Charts. In 2001, he was diagnosed with a neuromuscular condition that affected his right hand, making it almost impossible to continue playing guitar. Unwilling to give up, he began teaching himself to play his signature style left-handed. In 2007, he produced his first album playing left-handed, "Into the Light," a concert recording of compositions for acoustic guitar and string orchestra. The documentary "Changing Keys," chronicles McLaughlin's struggles and achievements. He has received numerous awards and accolades for persevering through a devastating illness.

Dec. 24: No concert, Christmas Eve.

Dec. 31: No concert, New Year's Eve.

Sponsored by Mayo Clinic Center for Humanities in Medicine, the Rosemary and Meredith Willson Harmony for Mayo Program is coordinated by Choral Arts Ensemble of Rochester. The series is generously funded by the late Rosemary Willson in memory of her husband, Meredith Willson, who wrote the Broadway musical "The Music Man." The gift is made in gratitude for the couple's care at Mayo Clinic. More information can found online.

Media Contact: Kelley Luckstein, 507-284-5005 (days), newsbureau@mayo.edu

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