A Festival of Lessons and Carols, Fresno Pacific University’s annual Christmas gift to the community, will present “Light and Life to All He Brings” for 2023.
The service of Scripture passages, classical music and seasonal carols—with the audience joining in—will be at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, December 3, in First Presbyterian Church, 1540 M St., Fresno. Admission is $15. Get tickets in advance at fresno.edu/lessons-and-carols-2023 or at the door if available.
Woven from several sources to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, Lessons and Carols tells the story of the promise of the Messiah and the birth of Jesus in nine lessons beginning with Genesis and including the prophetic books of the Bible and the Gospels. The program is based on a Church of England service first performed in 1918 at King’s College, Cambridge University.
Joining in the celebration will be several FPU student ensembles:
- Concert Choir
- Chamber Singers
- Crosswind (vocal/instrumental)
- Women’s Chorale
- Men’s Chorus
- Pacific Brass
- San Joaquin Chorale
Leading and accompanying FPU student ensembles are Jeffrey Wilson, D.M.A., director of choral activities; George Dougherty, D.M.A., director of bands; Matthew Horton, M.A., piano; Scott Horton, M.A., organ; Christa Pehl Evans, Ph.D., Chamber Winds director; and Melita Mudri-Zubacz, M.A., M.M., Crosswind director.
Other FPU music events planned for the semester are:
- “Exhilaration,” 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 29, featuring the FPU Symphonic Band, Pacific Brass and Jazz Band. Lyles Theater in the Warkentine Culture and Arts Center, 4838 E. Butler Ave., Fresno, on the main FPU campus. Admission is free.
- “Crosswind Evening of Praise and Worship,” 7:00 p.m. Thursday, December7. The FPU student vocal/instrumental ensemble will perform in Lyles Theater in the Warkentine Culture and Arts Center, 4838 E. Butler Ave., Fresno, on the main FPU campus. Admission is free.
- December 8-17, 2023, “Black Nativity,” December 8-17 Fresno Pacific University fall play, a co-production with Shine Theater, Fresno. The Christmas story in dialogue, narrative, pantomime, gospel song and folk spirituals. Written by Langston Hughes, directed by tony sanders. Lin Family Performance Studio in the Warkentine Culture and Arts Center, 4838 E. Butler Ave., Fresno, on the main FPU campus. Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for seniors, military, students and FPU staff, faculty and alumni. Tickets at fresno.edu/news-events/event/3796/black-nativity.
For more on any FPU music event, see fresno.edu/events/music or contact the Music Office at music@fresno.edu or 559-453-2257.