ROCK ISLAND, IL (11/29/2011)(readMedia)-- Augustana presents its fourth annual Christmas at Augustana holiday concert-which has nearly sold out in previous years-on Friday, Dec. 2, at 8 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 3, at 4 p.m. in Centennial Hall (3703 7th Ave.). More than 300 students in the college's choirs, brass ensemble and orchestra will join together to share music with audience members in what promises to be a warm and memorable holiday experience for all.

From your area this includes:

Hannah Barney, a Junior from Bettendorf, Iowa, majoring in Business Administration-Marketing/Communication Studies.

Elizabeth Kuster, a Sophomore from Bettendorf, Iowa, majoring in Creative Writing.

Anthony TouVelle, a First Year from Bettendorf, Iowa, majoring in Undecided.

Kaleigh Wall, a Junior from Eldridge, Ill., majoring in Art.

Steven Ray Trent, a Sophomore from Eldridge, Iowa, majoring in Geology.

Ashley Finley, a Sophomore from Davenport, Iowa, majoring in Music Education Instrumental.

Peter Wiese, a Junior from Davenport, Iowa, majoring in Neuroscience/Mathematics.

Guy Iaccarino, a Senior from Davenport, Iowa, majoring in Music General/Anthropology.

Abigail Jones, a Sophomore from Davenport, Iowa, majoring in Biology/Environmental Studies.

Rickey Rector, a Junior from Davenport, Iowa, majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders.

Nick Kendell, a Sophomore from Davenport, Iowa, majoring in Undecided.

Ingrid Schneider, a First Year from Davenport, Iowa, majoring in Undecided.

Benjamin Knapper, a First Year from Davenport, Iowa, majoring in Undecided.

Adam Bengfort, a First Year from Davenport, Iowa, majoring in Undecided.

Christine Harb, a First Year from Davenport, Iowa, majoring in Undecided.

Manisha Kumar, a Junior from Davenport, Iowa, majoring in Biology/Pre-Medicine.

Anne VanSpeybroek, a Junior from Rock Island, Ill., majoring in Music Performance- Instrumental.

Timothy Murga, a Senior from Rock Island, Ill., majoring in Biology.

Monica Hill, a Sophomore from Carbon Cliff, Ill., majoring in Business Administration-Advising.

Lindsey Sikorski, a First Year from East Moline, Ill., majoring in Undecided.

Samantha McGreer, a First Year from Illinois City, Ill., majoring in Undecided.

Samantha Kammerman, a First Year from Milan, Ill., majoring in Undecided.

Laurel Williams, a Senior from Milan, Ill., majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders/English.

Jacob McManus, a First Year from Reynolds, Ill., majoring in Undecided.

Lauren Reid, a Senior from Sherrard, Ill., majoring in Business Administration- Marketing/Communication Studies.

Elyzia Powers, a First Year from Silvis, Ill., majoring in Undecided.

Jennifer Youngs, a Senior from Taylor Ridge, Ill., majoring in Psychology/Political Science.

Megan Keller, a Senior from Taylor Ridge, Ill., majoring in Communication Studies.

Christmas at Augustana is one of a series of performances planned for the Christmas season. The Handel Oratorio Society, a choir that combines the vocal talents of Augustana students and Quad-City community members, along with the professional Handel Oratorio Society Chamber Orchestra and guest soloists, will perform Handel's Messiah on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 11, at 2 p.m. in continuation of an annual tradition. The event will be held in Centennial Hall (3703 7th Ave.).

Tickets for both Christmas at Augustana and Messiah are available at www.augustana.edu/tickets or by calling (309) 794-7306.

The Augustana Chamber Singers and the Office of Campus Ministries will present Lessons and Carols on Thursday, Dec. 15, at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. This beautiful Advent service chronicles the preparation of Christ's birth through songs and readings in Ascension Chapel (on campus at 820 38th St.). The event is free and open to the public.

The Chordbuster Chorus presents it's 3rd Annual Christmas Festival.  Experience  the Christmas musical charms of:  Trinity Lutheran Choirs, Assumption High School Jazz Choir, Three Guys with Soule quartet, an organ/trumpet duet, and the combined Chordbuster and the Bend of the River Chorus.

Thursday, December 8th, 7 p.m.

Trinity Lutheran Church, 1122 West Central Park, Davenport, Iowa.

Tickets: $5.

12 and under: free.

Information:  (563) 332-4810.

The Chordbuster Chorus, BHS Central States District's 2011 Div. "AA" Most Improved Chorus, is a non-profit organization, promoting a cappella, barbershop-style harmony singing as a way of enriching people's lives.

www.thechordbusters.com

The live action motion picture production of PIZZA MAN to be made by Brookspics Productions is slated to begin in the spring of 2012. Brookspics, which is owned by Mel Brooks, has been approved for production by Betsy Steinberg, Managing Director of the Illinois Film Office. PIZZA MAN is a horror/thriller film and has been in active development and preparation since June of this year through the efforts of Producer, Rainer Soehnlein in cooperation with Great River Studios, LLC of Rock Island, Illinois. Great River will be the production management, service, equipment and facilities company associated with the local production of the film in the Illinois Quad Cities area.

An extensive location scout took place during the months of August and September of this year with the film's director Steve Haberman and Great River Production Executive, Doug Miller, along with numerous associates from Great River Studios. Production budgets have been finalized and logistics have been coordinated for the production with the cooperation of numerous Quad Cities residents, various Great River production partners and the Cities of Rock Island and Moline with locations selected in both of these communities thus far. The projected budget of the film is $5 million dollars

Steve Haberman, the writer-director of PIZZA MAN, is a longtime collaborator with Mel Brooks having written two movies with him: LIFE STINKS and DRACULA - DEAD AND LOVING IT. He also wrote the feature SCREW LOOSE and the documentary SHADOWS IN THE DARK: THE VAL LEWTON LEGACY. His short film, BLIND CURVES, which he wrote, produced and directed, won 17 international film festivals, including the Eastman Kodak Film of the Year and Best Short Film of the Year from the Photographic Society of America. An expert on horror films, he authored the book SILENT SCREAMS, the definitive history of horror in the silent era. He performed the commentary on 15 classic horror films including the original Universal Pictures' DRACULA and THE MUMMY for which he won the Rando Award for Best Commentary of the Year. He recently produced, directed and edited the HBO special MEL BROOKS AND DICK CAVETT - TOGETHER AGAIN.

For more information about PIZZA MAN and or interviews with Mr. Haberman please contact Doug Miller, Great River Studios Production Executive at 563-349-1041.

Ice skating returns to the Holiday Pops as Olympic ice skater Todd Eldredge, couples skating team Andy and Lindsey Seitz, and the Figure Skating Club of the Quad Cities join the Quad City Symphony Orchestra for this year's Holiday Pops! Guest conductor Michael Butterman, a favorite with the Holiday Pops audience, also returns to lead this star-studded spectacular. Holiday Pops is on November 19 at 7:30 PM and kicks off Quad City Arts' Festival of Trees, along with the Festival of Trees Parade and the Lighting of the Commons. This concert is sponsored by John Deere.

Conductor Michael Butterman and the Quad City Symphony Orchestra will also be joined on stage by actor John Getz, known for his roles in such films as the Social Network and Zodiac, and jazz trumpeter Jon Faddis. Both John Getz and Jon Faddis are brought to the Quad Cities by Quad City Arts. And of course the Holiday Pops concert would not be complete without the hundreds of voices from the Sanctuary Choir of First Presbyterian Church, Davenport, and the Holiday Pops Children's Chorus.

Tickets are on sale now at the i wireless Center box office, at 800.745.3000, or online at www.qcsymphony.com. Tables along the ice are $45 per seat, with tiered pricing in the arena ranging from $15 to $35. Seniors and children can save $2 per ticket and groups of 15 or more can save even more by calling the i wireless Center group sales department at 309.277.1356.