Festival of Lessons and Carols Highlights Talent of North Park Students, Staff
Performances by Chicago Children’s Choir and North Park’s Gospel Choir, Touring Ensemble, and Orchestra highlight Advent themes.
CHICAGO (December 15, 2016) — North Park University presented its annual Festival of Lessons and Carols on Sunday, December 4, 2016, at St. Hilary Catholic Church in Chicago. The Advent service was a collaboration of more than 175 North Park musicians and the Chicago Children’s Choir—Albany Park Division.
The title of the program, Angel Voices Ring, was taken from the finale piece Carol to the King 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 Magnificat, which was performed by the North Park University 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. “There 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,” said Hannah Geil, a member of the Touring Ensemble.
“We especially rejoice at the hospitality of the Church of St. Hilary. May the light of Advent kindle our lives this night,” President David L. Parkyn said as he addressed the audience. “Let 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, “All I could do was smile, because it was clear that God had used us that night.”
Author Ana SeklerPosted on Categories Stories