News

Lee University’s annual concert of Christmas music, “A Classic Christmas,” will take place Sunday, Dec. 7 at 3 p.m. in the Conn Center. The concert’s 25th year celebration will feature Lee’s Choral Union, Chorale, Symphony Orchestra, Children’s Chorale, and Lenena Brezna, soprano, one of the newest School of Music faculty members.

This year’s concert will feature music from “The Many Moods of Christmas,” a series of Christmas carol arrangements made popular by Robert Shaw. The suites include portions of “Good Christian Men, Rejoice,” “Silent Night,” “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” “Joy to the World,” “Away in a Manger,” “The First Noel,” “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” and “Deck the Halls.” Seasonal favorites like “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” and “O Holy Night” are also on the program, as well as “Betelehemu,” a Nigerian Christmas carol.

“The original inspiration for ‘A Classic Christmas’ was the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus’ performances of Christmas classics, including Shaw’s Christmas suites,” said Dr. William R. Green, dean of the School of Music. “We wanted to celebrate the concert’s 25th anniversary by bringing them back for our community to enjoy.”

Green conducts Choral Union and Chorale. Symphony Orchestra is directed by Artist-in-Residence Robert Bernhardt, and Dr. Jonathan Rodgers, assistant professor of music, will guest conduct for this concert. The Children’s Chorale is directed by Joshua Wenger, choral director at Lake Forest Middle School in Cleveland and alumnus of Lee’s master of music education program. Brezna, a former Miss Mississippi who has performed with numerous operas and symphonies, is in her first year as a member of Lee’s full-time faculty.

“This concert is our gift to the community,” Green said. “Our goal has always been to bring a high quality Christmas musical experience to Cleveland. This year, we are focusing particularly on familiar music that the whole family can enjoy.”

Tickets are free, but required due to limited seating. Tickets can be reserved at the Dixon Center Box Office and by phone at 423-614-8343.

For more information on this event or the Lee University School of Music, call 423-614-8240, email [email protected], or visit www.leeuniversity.edu/academics/music