Hendricks Chapel Choir, Handbell Ringers will usher in the season with annual holiday concert on Dec. 5

Hendricks Chapel Choir, Handbell Ringers will usher in the season with annual holiday concert on Dec. 5November 23, 2004Kelly Homan Rodoskikahoman@syr.edu

The Boston Brass ensemble will join the Hendricks Chapel Choir and the Hendricks Chapel Handbell Ringers for the annual Hendricks Chapel Holiday Concert on Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m. in Hendricks Chapel.

The lighting of the University’s holiday tree on the Quad will precede the concert at 7 p.m. The Sour Sitrus Society will lead a carol sing during the lighting ceremony. Chancellor Nancy Cantor will throw the switch to light the tree.

G. Burton Harbison, professor and director of choral studies in the College of Visual and Performing Arts and director of the Hendricks Chapel Choir, says that the concert, highlighted by a wide range of traditional holiday music, will be a real treat.

“The choir is particularly wonderful this year,” says Harbison, who is retiring in May after 27 years of service to the University. He has directed the Chapel Choir for nine years, and will lead 47 students on a concert tour of China in May.

The Boston Brass will also perform as part of this year’s celebration. “We are lucky to have them here,” says Harbison. The ensemble last visited campus in the during the Spring 2003 semester as part of Hendricks Chapel’s Malmgren Concert Series.

The choir, together with The Boston Brass, will begin the concert with “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” ‘Choral Fanfare for Christmas,” The Three Kings” and “In Dulci Jubilo.” Later in the program, the choir will sing “Alleluia” by Randall

Thompson, one of the pieces programmed on the China tour, and then will be accompanied by Thomaidha Trebicka and Christopher Marks on piano (four hands) for “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” “The Holy Infants Lullaby” and “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”

The Boston Brass will perform selections from the “Nutcracker,” and other holiday favorites accompanied by Marks on the organ. The handbell ringers, directed by Jessica Bowerman, will also perform a number of selections including “Gloria” and “Christmas Joy.” Those attending the concert are asked to bring a gift of canned goods to help benefit those in the community in need.

Selections by the choir and a candle-lighting ceremony will conclude the program. For more information on the concert, call the Hendricks Chapel Dean’s Office at 443-2901.