Holidays at Hendricks Heralds the Season on Sunday, Dec. 7

Audience members hold candles while they sing “Silent Night” at the end of the 2012 Holidays at Hendricks concert.

“Holidays at Hendricks,” the annual Syracuse University holiday concert featuring the Hendricks Chapel Choir, the Syracuse University Brass Ensemble, University Organist Anne Laver and several guest choirs and ensembles, will fill Hendricks Chapel with the sound of music on Sunday, Dec. 7.

The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public; the doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Those attending are asked to bring a non-perishable food item to be donated to those in need in the Syracuse community. Free parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis in the Quad 1 lot (accessible via Crouse Drive); the Quad 3 lot (accessible via Sims Drive, with entrance between Bowne Hall and Carnegie Library); the Waverly lot (accessible via Crouse Avenue) and in the Irving Garage.

Peppie Calvar, director of the Hendricks Chapel Choir, is artistic director. The music of the Syracuse University Brass Ensemble, directed by James T. Spencer, is a permanent feature of the annual concert. The assistant conductor for the Hendricks Chapel Choir that evening will be Denise Ellis. The associate director of the brass ensemble is Craig Elwood.

Guest performances will include the Syracuse University Singers, directed by John Warren with assistant conductor Denise Ellis and accompanist Sabine Krantz; Windjammer, SU’s vocal jazz ensemble, led by Jeff Welcher; the Syracuse University Concert Choir, directed by Elisa Macedo Dekaney, assistant conductor Anna Lilikas and accompanist John Wassmuth; the Syracuse University Women’s Choir, directed by Barbara Tagg and accompanied on piano by Katia Dinas; and the Liverpool First United Methodist Church Handbell Ringers, directed by Meribeth Dunstone.

During the concert, the groups will perform both individually and in combination. “Holidays at Hendricks” will include traditional favorites, such as “Jingle Bells” and “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” alongside holiday-oriented pieces from the classical repertoire, including the traditional spiritual “Glory Hallelujah to the Newborn King” and “O magnum mysterium” by Francis Poulenc. In keeping with Hendricks Chapel’s inclusive interfaith vision, a variety of sacred and secular pieces will be offered.

The concert will close with the traditional candle lighting and singing of “Silent Night.”

Through a unique collaboration between SU and WCNY, the 90-minute concert will again be broadcast in late December by WCNY on television and radio. Broadcast times for television will be Monday, Dec. 22, at 9 p.m. on 24.1; and Tuesday, Dec. 23, at 1 p.m. on 24.1, and Wednesday, Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve), at 7 p.m. on 24.4 (HD). Broadcast times for radio will be Wednesday, Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve), at 6 p.m. and Thursday, Dec. 25 (Christmas Day), at 8:30 a.m. on WCNY-FM 91.3.

WCNY-TV is found on Channel 24 or Time Warner Channel 11, digital cable channels 850 and 853 and simulcast in SD 24.1 and HD 24.4. WCNY-FM (CLASSIC-FM) is found at 91.3 in Syracuse, 89.5 in Utica and 90.9 in Watertown.

For more information on the concert, contact Hendricks Chapel at 443-2901.