DePaul University will shine a light on the need for charitable service this holiday season when it serves as the exclusive university sponsor of The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival® presented by Harris on Nov. 20.

On a float adorned in blue and white lights, the Belden Brass Quintet from DePaul University’s School of Music will perform holiday tunes to entertain attendees as well as those watching at home on ABC-TV, which is televising the parade.

“From our commitment to community-based service learning to our engagement in activities throughout the city, DePaul strives to contribute to the strength of the city and beyond through education and charitable service,” said the Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M., president of DePaul.

DePaul Blue Demons mascot DIBS as well as representatives from DePaul’s School of Music, Office of Student Affairs, School of Public Service, Irwin W. Steans Center for Community-based Service Learning and Office of Public Relations and Communications will greet visitors to the DePaul booth at Lights Festival Lane, in Pioneer Court, 401 N. Michigan Ave., which runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be a variety of activities, fun, games and musical entertainment throughout the day.

In the parade, the Belden Brass Quintet will get everyone in the holiday spirit as they play music while on DePaul’s float. The parade kicks off at 5:30 p.m. on North Michigan Avenue at Oak Street and goes south to Wacker Drive, where a fireworks display over the Chicago River serves as the grand finale.

The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival® presented by Harris kicks off the holiday season in Chicago by lighting the trees along North Michigan Avenue, a 50-year tradition. Presented by Harris with the help of more than 800 volunteers, the festival encourages everyone to join in the spirit of the holiday season and enjoy a host of festive experiences along The Magnificent Mile. An estimated 850,000 to 1 million people attend the activities annually, making it the largest single-day event in Chicago.

The Belden Brass Quintet is composed of students in the masters of music performance program at DePaul. It includes second-year graduate student Joshua Wirt on tuba, first-year graduate student Sonja Lindsay on trumpet, first-year graduate student Carl Schulte on trumpet, second-year graduate student Cara Sawyer on horn and second-year student Rachel Levin on trombone.

“Our professional backgrounds include performing with various ensembles around the world, in Austria, Australia, Canada, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and in virtually every corner of the United States for more than 15 years,” Wirt said.            

The Belden Brass Quintet and DePaul Dance Team gave a sneak preview of parade day  Nov. 10 by performing some holiday tunes while Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse as well as friends from Harris and Shedd Aquarium tested the lights in anticipation of The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival presented by Harris on Nov. 20. Their performances appeared on ABC-TV, WMAQ-TV, WBBM-TV and WGN Radio.

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About DePaul
With more than 25,000 students, DePaul University is the largest Catholic university in the United States and the largest private, non-profit university in the Midwest. The university offers approximately 275 graduate and undergraduate programs of study on two Chicago campuses and four suburban campuses and in three international locations. Founded in 1898, DePaul remains committed to providing a quality education through personal attention to students from a wide range of backgrounds. For more information, visit www.depaul.edu.