(November 28, 2014)

Centenary College Choir continues holiday music tradition

SHREVEPORT, LA — The Centenary College Choir will present its Christmas music series in December, continuing a holiday tradition that has delighted the Shreveport-Bossier community for generations. The lineup includes both sacred and secular music and its diversity reflects the Choir's unifying season theme, "Out of This World."

"The Choir's Christmas program seeks to lift holiday spirits with treasured favorites of the season, coupled with the profoundly sacred story of Christmas," said Dr. David Hobson, A.C. "Cheesy" Voran Choir Director. "As with any Centenary College Choir program, the audience experiences a wide variety of music that everyone can enjoy."

This year's program features favorites such as White Christmas, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, and The Twelve Days of Christmas, as well as its irreverent counterpart, The Twelve Days After Christmas. The Choir will also present settings of Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming with cello, Brad Holmes' robust Noel in African processional style, Paul Manz's poignant E'en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come, and a Norwegian folk version of Fairest Lord Jesus.

The Choir's invited holiday appearances include the Shreveport Downtown Rotary Club's annual Christmas program on Tuesday, December 2 and a reception and performance for residents and families at the Oaks of Louisiana on Thursday, December 4.

On Friday, December 5 at 6 p.m., the Choir will participate in a program of exclusively sacred music at Centenary's annual Christmas Candlelight Service, a celebration of the beginning of Advent. The Choir collaborates with Centenary's Camerata choral ensemble, the I-49 Brass group, College organist Dr. Hollice Watson, and many other students and local community members to organize this beloved campus tradition at Centenary's Brown Chapel. The entire Shreveport-Bossier community is encouraged to attend this free holiday event.

"The Christmas Candlelight Service at Brown Chapel has become my favorite service," said senior Addie Barron. "Music is a driving force in the service, with the most memorable moment coming when we surround the congregation and sing Silent Night by candlelight. This is an opportunity for the Shreveport community to gather and reflect on the season while also providing a meaningful and reverent worship experience."

Local audiences will also have several chances to enjoy the Choir's annual Christmas Concert, sponsored by the Willis-Knighton Health System and televised on KTBS Channel 3. This year's program was filmed at Centenary's Anderson Auditorium and will air in rotation on Channel 3.3, the KTBS digital news channel, from 6 p.m. on Wednesday, December 24 through 9 p.m. on Thursday, December 25. The program can also be seen on KTBS Channel 3 at the following times:

Sunday, December 21 — 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, December 24 — 10:35 p.m.

Hailed as "America's Singing Ambassadors," the Centenary College Choir has traveled the world for seven decades, constantly exploring new and productive avenues in the world of collegiate choral music. This innovative spirit is evident in the Choir's unique and diverse programming, a repertoire that ranges from Bach to Broadway, world folk music to contemporary church music, and oratorio to opera.