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DFW Big Ten Alumni Christmas Soiree

Christmas Pops with the DSO

For the past two years, the North Texas Chapter has celebrated Christmas as a group. This year, we celebrated Christmas with a larger group - the DFW Big Ten Alumni. As you have seen over the past year, the DFW Big Ten Alumni has conducted several events. On 6 December 2008 was the group’s first Christmas event.

Twenty three (23) of us gathered at Alegro prior to the Christmas Pops with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO). We grazed buffet style on some excellent cuisine provided by the culinary staff. Also provided, which was not provided on the menu, was fellowship with fellow Gopher Alums. Members of the other alumni chapters within the DFW Big Ten Alumni proved to be excellent conversationalists. We managed to overlook that they are not Gopher Alums.

At about two thirds of the way through the dinner Harald Mallwitz, President of the University of Minnesota Alumni Association – North Texas Chapter got up and addressed those in attendance. Harald thanked everyone for coming out. Harald spoke to the issue of everyone becoming active in their local alumni chapters – regardless of whether you attended Michigan, Iowa, Wisconsin or any of the other Universities within the Big Ten Conference. Harald noted that all the chapters are looking for volunteers and talented individuals. At that point all the chapter presidents fielded questions from those who were inquisitive of the DFW Big Ten Alumni as a whole and of the individual alumni chapters in the DFW area.

At that point, it was about time to finish up dessert and move on to the main hall of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO) for the highlight of the evening.

Christmas Pops with the DSO and Christmas Chorale included a festive evening of yuletide carols and selections from The Nutcracker; It’s a Wonderful Life and more. To properly get into the mood of the holidays we took part in some traditional Christmas sing-along like I Am Dreaming of a White Christmas and Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer. It is one thing to listen to music coming out of a radio. It is an entirely different experience to listen to a symphony perform that music live and in person. This event was a true joy to listen to and experience with the notes resonating throughout the tiers and balconies of the Meyerson Symphony Center. The music was crisp, clear and never lacking.

Thank you everyone for coming out to the DFW Big Ten Alumni Christmas Soiree - Christmas Pops with the DSO. Happy Holidays to everyone, and see you in a better 2009!

Harald Mallwitz, B.S.B., 1984

President

North Texas Chapter

University of Minnesota Alumni Association

http://www.alumni.umn.edu/chapter-northtexas.html

http://www.carlsonschool.umn.edu/index.aspx