November 17, 2010
AMHERST, Mass.—Amherst College will celebrate the 2010 holiday season in its annual Christmas Vespers services on Sunday, Dec. 5. The “Festival of Lessons and Carols” services are sponsored by the school’s Office of Religious Life and the Choral Society and will take place at 4 and 7:30 p.m. in Johnson Chapel. Admission is free and the public is invited.
Mallorie Chernin, assisted by Nathan Olson ’10, will direct the Choral Society, joined by the student-directed Amherst College Madrigal Singers. The Music 21 Singers, directed by Klará Moricz, will be singing Gregorian chants from a Hungarian manuscript. 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 Palestrina, Lassus, Biebl 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.
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