November 22, 2003
Director of Media Relations
413/542-8417

AMHERST, Mass.- The annual Christmas Vespers service will be held on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 4 p.m. and again at 7:30 p.m. in Johnson Chapel at Amherst College. The "Festival of Lessons and Carols" is sponsored by the Amherst College Christian Fellowship, the Newman Club and the Protestant and Roman Catholic Religious Advisors. Admission is free, and the public is invited.

Mallorie Chernin will direct the Amherst College Choral Society, assisted by Daniel Leistra '03. Sarah Davis '05 and Alex Brewster '06 will direct the Amherst College Madrigal Singers. Other musicians will include organist James Maes and trumpeters Douglas Purcell and Kevin Daley '05. The Choral Society will perform music of Palestrina, Chesnokov, Victoria, Handel, and others.

The Women's Chorus and Glee Club will combine to sing "Carol of the Bells." Members of the college community will read the scripture lessons. The congregation will be asked to join in the singing of traditional carols and the "Hallelujah Chorus" from Handel's Messiah.

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