Eastern Mennonite University singers will make several appearances on Sunday, Dec. 7, to mark the approaching Advent season. The Chamber Singers perform in three worship services at Harrisonburg churches, while the Shenandoah Valley Children\u2019s Choir hosts its annual holiday concert on campus.<\/p>\n
Chamber Singers<\/strong><\/p>\n The Chamber Singers, led by Kenneth J. Nafziger, will perform in Advent services at Muhlenberg Lutheran Church, 281 E. Market St., at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Nafziger will lead the singers in a performance of one of the Bach Advent cantatas, joined by the EMU string ensemble.<\/p>\n The choir will also perform during the 5 p.m. Evensong service at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 660 S. Main St. The Chamber Singers have sung in this series every year except one since the church began offering this service to the community, Nafziger said.<\/p>\n Children\u2019s Choir<\/strong><\/p>\n The Shenandoah Valley Children\u2019s Choir performs \u201cA Celtic Christmas,\u201d its 23rd annual Christmas concert and the first with new director Janet Hostetter, in Lehman Auditorium at 4 p.m.<\/p>\n Several selections are specifically tailored for the Celtic theme, while Celtic dances \u2013performed by choir members Matthew Long, Rebekah Long, Eve Manning, and Sydney Shaver, under the tutelage of JoAnn Carle \u2013will open and close the concert.<\/p>\n A sampling of the afternoon\u2019s selections by the Treble Choir includes \u201cTaladh Chriosda\u201d (The Christ Child\u2019s Lullaby); \u201cCeltic Gloria\u201d; the Baroque piece \u201cAlleluia! Sing! Rejoice!\u201d based on a composition by George Frideric Handel; a Kentucky carol, \u201cHush, My Babe,\u201d and two traditional French carols.<\/p>\n The Concert Choir will perform\u00a0Henry Purcell’s “Sound the Trumpet,” John Rutter’s “Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day” with soloist Cierra Sweet, “Le Sommeil de l’Enfant Jesus” (The Sleep of the Infant Jesus) performed by the advanced musicianship class, “Christmas is Coming” a lighthearted rendition of a traditional round, “Eatnemen Vuelie” (Fairest Lord Jesus) with soloist Ben Elliott, and “Mary Had a Baby\/Joyful, Joyful\u201d with soloist Sophie Wellington.<\/p>\n Guest instrumentalists will include Dr. Pedro Aponte on the flute, Tara Davis on violin and Brent Holl on percussion.<\/p>\n The audience will be invited to join in singing traditional carols, including \u201cSilent Night.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"