Cantiamo, Bellezza, junior high choir all to perform, Dec. 3

As Christmas approaches, the high school and junior high choirs and ensemble have been practicing since November for the upcoming Christmas program “Lessons and Carols” at 7 p.m. at the Peoples Church main auditorium, Dec. 3.

“Lessons and Carols” is a Christmas order of service originally written and performed in 1880 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.

Choir director Susan Ainley will have students reading from the Bible to tell the story of Christmas. This year she has chosen nine students to read and help share the narrative.

“The lessons are nine readings from the Bible that tell the Christmas story, with carols sung in between,” Ainley said. “This year I have asked nine high school choir students to read the Bible lessons. Often, the lessons are read by one person, someone with a fantastic, resonant speaking voice. This year, I’ve asked our own choir students to read.

“I’ve noticed that a lot of students joined choir this year,” Ainley continued, “because they saw our group as a community with like-minded goals. I thought it would be great to have student’s voices moving the program along, both in reading and in singing.”

The Cantiamo high school choir group will perform both traditional Christmas carols and composed music of the season. The members of the audience will be invited to sing along with the Christmas hymns.

The women’s ensemble, Bellezza, will perform “Sing We Now Noel” to open the program. Then, the choirs will divide into two groups to sing the antiphonal anthem “Gloria Patri” by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina. The combined choirs will sing composed Christmas songs such as “Have You Seen the Newborn King”, “What Strangers are These?” and “Bell Carol” The finale is a contemporary anthem called “Cornerstone”. The evening will also feature several solos.

Macie Thompson, ‘19, is one of the several who will be singing a solo. She has been participating in choir since the 4th grade.

“I started with elementary choir and then went to junior high choir which then led me to ensemble my freshman year of high school,” Thompson said. “I did just that for three years and this year I decided to take both choir and ensemble. At this upcoming concert, I am looking forward to singing with all of my friends and singing for everyone. I can’t wait to sing the Christmas songs that we have prepared for everyone.

“My favorite song is called ‘Holy Child’,” Thompson continued. “It is a song that the ensemble will be singing! It is a lullaby and it is so soothing to hear and it has such a beautiful job of telling the story of Jesus.”

First-year high school choir student Max Hinton, ‘22, is looking forward to sing with his friends.

“I have been doing some form of music with Mrs. Ainley since kindergarten,” Hinton said. “I am looking forward to singing with my friends and putting on a performance that the audience can enjoy and participate in. My favorite song is “Cornerstone” because it is enjoyable to sing and I like to hear my friend, John, sing it along with me.”

After singing at Clovis Community Hospital’s annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony, the campus choral program is preparing “Lessons and Carols”, Dec. 3.

Singing a plethora of their songs, #FCchoir and #FCensemble students provide Christmas music at the annual Clovis Community Hospital Tree Lightening Ceremony, Nov. 27. Come support the music department at their upcoming concert ‘Lessons and Carols,’ Dec. 3, 7 p.m. #TheFeather pic.twitter.com/KLEKQSUyT5

— The Feather Online (@thefeather) November 28, 2018

Junior higher Jack Rieker, ‘23, is excited to sing a lot of music all in one night.

“I am so excited and can’t wait to join high school choir,” Rieker said. “I am looking forward to tougher music and more people to sing with. I have done choir sense kindergarten till now which is eighth grade. My favorite part of choir is being able to do it with my friends and have to work hard to prepare for a concert and to get through a lot of music in a day.”

Guest musicians will perform during the evening, including worship team leader Daniel Garrison on guitar, Deanna Certain on flute and Ben Certain again will accompany the group’s on the piano.

For more Christmas performances, the elementary music department presents “Sing We All Noel” on Dec. 4 starting at 6:30 p.m. in the Peoples Church Auditorium and the FCS music department presents “A Suite of Sweets” featuring the FC Band, Eagle Band, and the Percussion Ensemble led by Director Lesley Bannister on Dec. 10 starting at 6:30 p.m. in the SMC.

Come help us celebrate and support your fellow classmates through music and the Christmas story. For last year’s concert, check out “Lessons and Carols” and Promo: Lessons and Carols.

For other articles, read Countdown to Christmas: Local fun stuff to do and How to: Make an infographic using Canva.

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