November 30, 2006
Director of Media Relations
413/542-8417
AMHERST, Mass.—The annual Christmas Vespers service will be held on Sunday, Dec. 3, 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 Kate Vogele, Mount Holyoke College ’06. Jay Buchman ’06 and Elly Jessop ’08 will direct the Amherst College Madrigal Singers. Other musicians will include organist James Maes and trumpeters Douglas Purcell and David Reinhardt ’09, both of the Amherst College Music Department.
The Choral Society will perform music of Richard Zgodava, David Wilcock, Javier Busto, Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck, Eric Whitacre and others. 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.
###