What do you get when you combine School of Music students’ love of performance, the excitement of the holidays, and the celebratory atmosphere of December graduation? An iconic and joyous celebration called Ford Fest. Featuring comedic performances from students and faculty, the annual show serves as an opportunity for students to come together and blow off steam on the last day of classes—often while dressed in goofy holiday attire.

Ford Fest also features oddball ensembles like the tuba choir and bassoon choir, and skits from the arts fraternities as well as the music theory faculty. At the end of the evening, the IC Wind Ensemble takes the stage to play “Pomp and Circumstance” to celebrate all the seniors graduating with the challenging performance and education double degree in December, and a holiday classic, Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride.”

“You never know what the percussion studio has thought up for the bells and slapstick,” said one ’09 music alumnus. “In my years at IC, pop guns, 12-foot-tall slapsticks, and an actual bull whip were all fair game. It is my favorite memory from my time at IC.”