Appearing will be MHC’s Glee Club, Chamber Singers, and Concert Choir, directed by Catharine Melhorn, choral director and Hammond-Douglass Professor of Music, and Mark Bartley, and the English Handbell Choir, which is led by Lauren Wiggins ’05. Also featured will be College organist Larry Schipull, associate professor of music; pianist Mark Gionfriddo; and the Chamber Jazz Ensemble, which is directed by Gionfriddo.

In addition to familiar congregational carols and a candlelight Gregorian chant processional, the concert will include choral works ranging from music by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (circa 1525–1594) to contemporary gospel, in languages that include Latin, Czech, and Polish. The Concert Choir will perform selections from Kirke Mechem’s popular “Seven Joys of Christmas,” violinist Emily Snow ’04 will accompany the Chamber Singers in a performance of Bohuslav Martinu’s “Birth of our Lord,” and the Glee Club’s set will include a Huron Indian carol and the spiritual “Go Where I Send Thee.” The concert will open with jazz arrangements of two familiar carols, and the combined choirs will close the concert with Keith Hampton’s gospel song “Praise His Holy Name.” No tickets are required for the performances, but seating is limited. Doors open thirty-five minutes prior to each performance.

If you miss the concert on campus or want to attend twice, head to Boston, where the concert will be repeated Friday, December 7, at 8 pm at Boston’s Old South Church. For ticket information for the Boston concert, contact Cerise Jalelian at 781-861-7446 (home) or 978-774-7123 (work) or email cjalelian@ardiffmorse.com.