November 11, 2008
AMHERST, Mass.—Amherst College will celebrate the 2008 holiday season with the annual Christmas Vespers service on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 4 and 7:30 p.m. in Johnson Chapel. The Festival of Lessons and Carols, as it is called, is sponsored by the school’s Office of Religious Life and the Choral Society. Admission is free, and the public is invited.
Mallorie Chernin, assisted by Todd Fruth ’08, will direct the Choral Society, while Samia Hesni ’11 and Ben Vincent ’09 will direct the Amherst College Madrigal Singers. Other musicians participating in the service include organist James Maes, trumpeter Douglas Purcell and the Amherst College Flute Choir.
The Choral Society will perform music of Handl, Whitacre, Praetorius and many others. Members of the college community will read the scripture lessons, and the congregation will be asked to join in the singing of traditional carols and the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s Messiah.
No tickets are required for the event.