Choirs, bells, flutes, harp, brass and strings will celebrate the season during the Classic Christmas Concert hosted by Fresno Pacific University.
The music begins 7 p.m. Sunday, December 3 in Veteran's Memorial Auditorium in downtown Fresno. Admission is $5 for general audiences and $3 for students and those over 65.
Among the highlights will be the premiere of a work for harp, flute choir, handbell choir and alto flute composed by Larry Warkentin, music faculty. This work is based on the ancient melody "Of the Father's Love Begotten" and features student Connie Pauls on alto flute.
Many student ensembles will share in the performance. The Handbell Choir, directed by Elizabeth Gonzales, will play "Love Came Down at Christmas" and "The Shepherd's Carol." Janette Erickson will conduct the Flautas Pacifica flute choir in a set including "Silent Night," "Carol of the Friendly Beasts" and "Tambourin."
Wayne Huber will direct the chamber orchestra, Musica Pacifica Baroque, in Corelli's "Christmas Concerto," which embodies the tradition of serenading the infant Christ. Karen Janzen will direct the Concert Choir and the Pacific Chamber Singers in several sets. Concert Choir pieces include "How Still He Rests" with solos by Hanna Nielsen, soprano, and Allen Schwamb, clarinet. Pieces by the Pacific Chamber Singers include "Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella."
Arlene Steffen conducts the Women's Chorale in "Glory to God in the Highest" and "In the Bleak Midwinter." The choirs and Pacific Brass, directed by Jennie Blomster, will join for "Arise, Your Light Has Come" and "Trilogy for Christmas."
For more information call the Music Office at 453-2267.
Fresno Pacific University is an accredited Christian university. Located on a 42-acre, park-like campus in southeast Fresno, FPU has an enrollment of more than 1,700 students -- half graduate and half undergraduate. The university also enrolls 12,000 students annually in its professional development studies programs offered locally and throughout the world.