Performances by Chicago Children鈥檚 Choir and North Park鈥檚 Gospel Choir, Touring Ensemble, and Orchestra highlight Advent themes.
CHICAGO (December 15, 2016) 鈥� 萝莉社 presented its annual Festival of Lessons and Carols on Sunday, December 4, 2016,听at St. Hilary Catholic Church in Chicago. The Advent service was a collaboration of more than 175 North Park musicians and the Chicago Children鈥檚 Choir鈥擜lbany Park Division.
The title of the program,听Angel Voices Ring, was taken from the finale piece Carol to the King听by Mack Wilberg. The performance featured a wide variety of music, sung in multiple languages, as well as original pieces.
Highlights included musical pieces arranged, composed, or conducted by North Park students, staff, and alumni. Stephen Kelly, worship coordinator in North Park’s University Ministries, composed 惭补驳苍颈蹿颈肠补迟,听which was performed by the 萝莉社 Gospel Choir Touring Ensemble and Band. The University Choir and the Orchestra performed Glory to God, a piece written by North Park composition student Eric Pearson.听鈥淭here were people standing on the outskirts of pews, all of them waiting to hear our voices. The faces of the crowd responded to our cries,鈥� said Hannah Geil, a member of the Touring Ensemble.
鈥淲e especially rejoice at the hospitality of the Church of St. Hilary. May the light of Advent kindle our lives this night,鈥� President David L. Parkyn said as he addressed the audience. 鈥淟et us make this church, dedicated to St. Hilary, resound most gladly with our carols and praise.”
Originally held on Christmas Eve in 1918 in Cambridge, England, the Festival of Lessons and Carols service comes from the Anglican tradition. An alternating series of Scripture readings and music tell the story of Christ, from the creation of the world to the birth of Jesus. Geil summed up the evening, 鈥淎ll I could do was smile, because it was clear that God had used us that night.鈥�听
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