The Catawba College Department of Music will present its annual Service of Lessons and Carols in Omwake-Dearborn Chapel for the twenty-fourth consecutive year. Members of the general public are invited to attend on Thursday, December 1, while a Tuesday, November 29 performance is open only to invited guests of the College.

This year, Justin Hazelgrove, Catawba's director of choral music, is serving as artistic director and principal conductor of this event. He promises a service that will be traditional with carols that "will illumine each reading and will highlight the innocence, intimacy, and mystery of the Incarnation."

Music heard at Lessons and Carols services at King's College, Cambridge, England, where the service originated, will be featured. The service weaves beautiful carols of the season with scriptures or lessons, relating to the story of Christmas from the prophecies to the mystery of the Holy Trinity. Musical selections include John Rutter's "What sweeter music," John Tavener's "The Lamb," and Mack Wilberg's "Infant holy, infant lowly." The program will also feature Polish composer Gorecki's "Totus, tuus," Poulenc's "O Magnum Mysterium," Bole's "Adam Lay Ybounden," and Helvey's "O lux beatissima."

"The audience will also take a personal role in this moving service through the singing of traditional Advent and Christmas hymns," Hazelgrove says. Performers will include organist Matt Brown, the Catawba Singers and the Catawba Chamber Singers, the Catawba Community Music Children's Choir, and the Catawba Wind Ensemble, conducted by Professor Steve Etters.

A prelude of Christmas music will begin at 6:30 p.m., with the Service of Lessons and Carols starting at 7:00 p.m. Shuttles to the Service will be offered beginning at 5:30 p.m. from the Robertson College-Community Center, Ketner Hall and Shuford Stadium parking lots on campus. After the Service, the shuttles will also be available to return guests to their vehicles.

The annual Service of Lessons and Carols is a widely anticipated community event that has played to full houses in recent years. Tickets for the December 1 performance, although free to the public, are required for all who plan to attend and requests are limited to up to four tickets per individual. Tickets will be available through the College Development Office beginning Monday, November 7 by calling (704) 637-4396 between 1 and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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