Surround yourself with the sounds of the holiday season by joining the Susquehanna Valley Chorale for a Candlelight Christmas on Saturday, December 17 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, December 18 at 3 pm at Zion Lutheran Church in Sunbury.
The concert will feature familiar holiday selections as well as new selections by two local, young composers Christian Humcke and Christopher Lottes.
The performance will be accompanied by harp, organ, percussion and the Commonwealth Brass.
Featured local soloists include: Amy Caron, Josh Dearing, Liz DeSantis, Katie Kelley, Christopher Lottes and Joanna Rees.
The ensemble includes over 60 members. The Chorale recently welcomed seven new scholarship students from Bucknell and Susquehanna Universities, and many new adult voices. Additional auditions will be held in January.
The Chorale will be joined by special guest, the Susquehanna Valley Youth Chorale.
Some of the familiar selections include: Once in Royal David’s City, Coventry Carol, The First Nowell, O Come All Ye Faithful, Still, Still, Still, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing and Joy to the World.
Other selections include The Dream Isaiah Saw, which was composed by Pittsburgh-based composer, singer and choral director, Glenn L. Rudolph at the request of the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh. The text was taken from Thomas H. Troeger’s 1994 publication Borrowed Light: Hymn Texts, Prayers, and Poems. The attack on the World Trade Center occurred as Mr. Rudolph was completing The Dream Isaiah Saw, which he dedicated to those who perished on September 11, 2001.
Two new compositions from local composers will also be featured:
Evening Quiescence is a recent composition by Christian Humcke, a Bucknell University graduate who is currently Minister of Music at St. Paul Lutheran Church, East Windsor NJ.
A new work by Susquehanna University student and SVC member, Christopher Lottes, will also be premiered. The piece is an ethereal setting of Coventry Carol.
[Note to the media: Lottes’ piece would make an interesting sidebar feature. Members of the media may contact Christopher at [email protected] for additional information and quotes.]
Sponsors for the performance include: Martha and Alan Barrick and Coldwell Banker/Penn One Real Estate. Co-sponsor is Mifflinburg Bank and Trust. Underwriters include: Kessey Kieselhorst, Gloria Karchner, Jacquelyn Paul and Albert Bothe, Jr., and Raven and Marv Rudnitsky.
Tickets for the performance are $25 for adults and $10 for students.
Tickets are available online at SVCMusic.org, by calling 570-547-0455 or at the door.
For more information about this performance and future performances, visit SVCMusic.org.