Fresno Christian’s choirs join together for a Lessons and Carols Christmas service that will enchant listeners, Mon., Dec. 11, at 7 p.m. in the main auditorium of Peoples Church.

The junior high choir will be joining the ensemble “Bellezza” and the concert choir “Cantiamo” in the annual December event.

Embodying the spirit of Christmas, the choral department returns with a set of Christmas music and a beautiful church service including candlelit songs, opportunities for the congregation to sing, and readings from the Bible given by a variety of staff and other major influences in the community. A guest reader includes choral director Susan Ainley and accompanist Ben Certain’s  former college choral professor, Dr. Roy L. Klassen, of Fresno Pacific University.  

Alina Davila, ‘19, reflects on the performance last year and compares it to this year.

“Last year I really enjoyed the Christmas concert because it brought so much joy to me,” Davila said. “This year I’m even more excited due to the fact we doubled in number! So there should be a greater impact and fuller sound. People should come hear the choir and ensemble sing because the music creates such a beautiful and peaceful environment!”

“I love all the music we are doing, and it’s difficult to choose a favorite. I know the different groupings of singers will keep the audience interested the whole time. It’s especially rewarding to hear the men singing the piece that Mr. Certain wrote-it’s really beautiful! I can’t wait to show off my wonderful students to our school community.” — Susan Ainley

The tradition of Lessons and Carols began in 1880 and was written and performed by Edward Benson, the Bishop of Truro, in Cornwall, UK. In 1918 it was performed by the King’s College, Cambridge, and has been used as a Christmas service ever since.

Choirs will be singing a variety of traditional pieces and composed pieces. The ensemble will perform “People Look East”, and join the junior high choir for a Christmas spiritual, “Children, Go Where I Send Thee”.

High school men will sing an original piece composed by Certain, an arrangement of “What Child is This”. All choirs will combine for a finale, “Hope for Resolution”. This song is a combination of the hymn “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” and the South African freedom song, “Thula Sizwe-Nation, do not cry”.

Ainley explains the background of the concert and the benefits of the Lessons and Carols.

“This is our second year doing Lessons and Carols,” Ainley said. “It’s done in more traditional churches, and Mr. Certain performed in one at Fresno Pacific. Last year, being our first, was hard because it seemed to have so many parts to work on. This year, the pattern was in place, so we just chose songs to fit the lessons, decided where the solos would be, and printed the music.

“Normally, a school might build a Christmas concert around a theme, or possibly combine with another department, like the instrumental or drama departments,” Ainley continued. “I’ve directed many kinds of Christmas concerts and enjoyed all of them. But, the Lessons and Carols is sort of a “one-stop” program. We hear the Bible story, every group gets a chance to shine, additional instrumentation is great, and the congregation gets to join in. When we’re done with the concert, it feels like we’ve been properly ushered into the season.”

The concert will also feature several soloists and special groups that sing. Other instruments including piano, flute, violin, string bass and percussion, join with the mass choir to bring together family and friends alike to celebrate Christmas.

The Lessons and Carols concert is free and open to all.

For another choir feature, check out FC Choir and Ensemble Fall Concert 2017. For another article, read Staff, students share benefits of bilingualism.

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