Annual Festival of Carols Rings in Holiday Season
The Women’s Glee Club, College Chorale and Alma Choir unite their voices and ring in the holiday season with their annual performance of the Festival of Carols.
The concerts take place at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3 and Saturday, Dec. 4, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5 in the Remick Heritage Center, Presbyterian Hall. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 seniors 62 and up, $3 for youth 18 and under, and free for Alma College staff and students. Seating is reserved. Call (989) 463-7304 for ticket information.
Will Nichols directs the choirs.
The Festival of Carols marks the beginning of the Advent and Christmas season for many mid-Michigan families. In total, 166 singers, 15 instrumentalists, 12 handbell ringers and one pianist perform. Will Nichols, director of choirs, conducts.
“The Festival of Carols has long been a holiday tradition on the Alma College campus,” Nichols says. “It is gratifying to know that so many families look to the Festival of Carols as the kickoff to the Christmas season.”
The seasonal concert is renowned for its lineup of traditional carols. The program includes “O Come All Ye Faithful,” “O Holy Night,” “Gesu Bambino” and “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.”
“The Festival of Carols is a ‘Frosty-free’ zone, and no one’s grandma will get run over by a reindeer,” says Nichols. “These carols, the sacred folk-music of Christmas, are a cultural legacy that extends across generations bringing people together as families and communities.”
Many of the choirs’ singers are Alma College seniors who will be performing in the Festival of Carols for the fourth time. Clarkston senior Kelsey Merz and Bay City senior Ali Cnudde all say they are grateful for Nichols’ leadership.
“Festival of Carols is one of my favorite events of the year,” says Merz. “It's exhausting, but so much fun. We spend a lot of time preparing for this every year, and it's always worth it.”
“The Festival of Carols has always been my favorite Alma College Choir concert, even before I was a student here,” says Cnudde. “The beautiful decorations and the festive Christmas music really get me in the holiday spirit."
“I think this might be the best Festival of Carols ever,” says Nichols. “The Choirs are singing beautifully and are excited about the music.”
Posted: Thu, November 25th, 2010 at 8:36AM
