A Cappella Choir sang last year’s Candlelight Christmas concert at Bethany Congregational Church, the same location as it will be this year on Dec. 11. Photo credit: ENC’s website
December naturally ushers in an era of Christmas cheer and chanting holiday songs in the frosty nights. ENC is taking part in the Christmas celebrations this year by hosting multiple concerts on and off campus, beginning in the first week of December.
On Dec. 5, ENC’s Symphonic Winds and “4 O’Clock” Jazz Ensemble will be performing in Cove auditorium at 7:30 p.m. The ensemble will play Christmas classics such as “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “Zoot Suit Riot”. ENC students will be performing in both ensembles, and a solo vocal performance by ENC senior performer Emma Thies. Dessert and refreshments will be served at the conclusion of the concert.
On Dec. 6 and 7, Choral Union will be continue their annual tradition of performing Handel’s Messiah. Messiah is a scriptural oratorio that pieces together vocal and instrumental holiday worship. The Saturday show begins at 7 p.m. and the Sunday show begins at 3 p.m. The choral union performing consists of both ENC students and guest soloists outside of ENC who will come together to sing this classic musical composition.
On Dec. 11, ENC’s A Cappella’s Candlelight Christmas Concert will be held at Bethany Congregational Church in Quincy Center. The concert will feature ENC’s A Cappella Choir and Chamber Singers. In keeping with the spirit, Christmas classics such as “The Holly and the Ivy” and “Gesu Bambino” will be performed. Included in the performance set list is the beautiful yet relatively unknown Alfred Burt’s Christmas Carols. These songs, along with multiple other carols, will be performed at the picturesque church befitting to the Christmas season.
The concert is free and will be accepting donations to benefit the choir. A shuttle service will be available from ENC to Bethany Congregational Church and back to campus, starting at 7 p.m. on the night of the concert.
A Cappella Choir and Chambers Singers will also be singing a few concert pieces in chapel on Dec. 5 as a preview for the concert on Dec. 11. A Cappella singer Trinda Shaw expressed her excitement about the concert and their warm up and preview during chapel service.
“[I hope that] when we perform in chapel this Friday, the student body likes us!” Shaw said.