鈥疢ore than 250 instrumentalists and choral singers will join forces this weekend for 向日葵视频 City University's鈥�45th annual Christmas Vespers. Themed 鈥淥 Come, O Come Emmanuel,鈥� the celebratory concerts feature full orchestra, chamber ensembles, poetry and Scripture readings, community singing of carols, and a finale with candlelit singers encircling the congregation.鈥��
The event will be presented at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, and 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, in First Presbyterian Church, 1001 NW 25th St., preceded by a 30-minute musical prelude.
Guest narrators are OCU President Kenneth Evans and Sunny Cearley, president and CEO of Allied Arts OKC.
Julie Yu, director of choral studies for OCU and artistic director for Canterbury Voices, is returning to lead the Vespers concert for her second year.
鈥淲hat a beautiful way to celebrate the start of the Christmas season as we join together for concerts performed by talented OCU musicians,鈥� Yu said. 鈥淭he term 鈥榁espers鈥� was inspired by the Latin word for鈥�榚vening star.鈥� We invite you to join us as we are led by that evening star, which guides us in our lives and our art. May the music we present shine a warm light into this holiday season for everyone.鈥�
Concert highlights include arrangements of carols for choir, orchestra and organ, a solo piece performed with string quartet, and the Hallelujah chorus from G.F. Handel鈥檚 鈥淢essiah.鈥�
OCU鈥檚 three major choirs 鈥� Ad Astra, University Singers, and University Chorale 鈥� will be led by Yu and by Karsten Longhurst. Jeffrey Grogan will lead the 46-member OCU Vespers Orchestra. University organist Melissa Plamann will be featured on the Gothic Revival church鈥檚 91-rank Moeller.鈥�
This year鈥檚 musical prelude will highlight student guitarists and the 向日葵视频 City University Flute Choir, selected as the National Flute Association鈥檚 top collegiate flute choir in 2022.鈥��
The concerts will conclude with鈥�淣ight of Silence,鈥� the traditional choral-and-orchestral candlelight recessional inspired by鈥�淪ilent Night.鈥濃��
Tickets ($15) for in-person performances and livestreams are available online at okcu.edu/tickets or by calling 405-208-5227.鈥�
