Several groups in university Christmas concert Dec. 6

Bluffton University’s Camerata Singers and University Chorale, along with a flute ensemble and a brass quartet, will headline “A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols,” the university’s Christmas concert, at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6 in Yoder Recital Hall.

The Friday evening performance will be the only presentation of the full concert. A shortened version will be presented as Bluffton’s weekly forum, at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3, also in Yoder Recital Hall.

The program is designed around a historical structure of Scripture readings and Christmas carols. The readings, taken from prophetic writings about the Messiah’s coming and from the Christmas story, are interspersed with various Christmas pieces.

Tickets for the Dec. 6 performance are $7.50 for adults and $5.50 for senior citizens (65 and over) and students. They are available online at http://tickets.bluffton.edu or by contacting the box office at 419-358-3350. Admission to the Dec. 3 forum presentation is free.

Dr. Mark J. Suderman, professor of music, conducts both Camerata Singers, a select chamber choir, and the University Chorale, a 58-voice, mixed ensemble. Each of the choirs will perform individual carols, representing a variety of countries and styles. The program will open and close with numbers sung by the combined choirs, accompanied by pianist Ana Yoder, an adjunct instructor.

Dr. Adam Schattschneider, professor of music, will direct the flute ensemble, while the brass quartet will accompany the combined choirs in the opening number.

Students from the choirs, along with Dr. Rebecca Janzen, Bluffton’s new assistant professor of Spanish, will serve as Scripture readers.