Limestone & Community Chorus Fall Concert Scheduled for December 8

The Limestone College and Community Chorus and the Limestone College Vocal Ensemble will present a fall concert entitled “Carols: Peace & Joy; Shalom v’Simcha,” on Thursday, Dec. 8, at 7:30 p.m., at Fullerton Auditorium

The concert, which is free and open to the public, will be conducted by Dr. Gena Poovey, Professor of Choral/Vocal Music Education and Director of Choral Activities at Limestone. The piano accompanist for the concert is Dr. David B. Thompson, Professor of Music at Limestone.

“The concert is intended to comfort audience members with an evening of familiar carols and texts, while bridging the gap between Christian tradition and everyday community,” Dr. Poovey said. “The inspiration for musical choices for this entire school year comes from a desire to offer encouragement and reassurance to students and to the public during what seems like troubled times in our nation and in our world.”

Dr. Poovey added that those who attend the concert will hear familiar arrangements like “Carol of the Bells,” as well as an exciting rhythmic treatment of “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen.”  Also, “O Little Town of Bethlehem” will be set to a brand new, hauntingly beautiful tune. An early American song, “The Shepherds Carol,” will also be performed. 

Other classic choral compositions on the program will include Morten Lauridsen’s “O Magnum Mysterium,” which explores the mystery of the holy birth amid the animals in the stable, and Faure’s “Cantique de Jean Racine,” which is a lush, beautiful setting of a prayer of adoration and commitment. 

Community members who sing with Limestone College students in the Chorus represent Cherokee Avenue Baptist Church, Circle of Grace Lutheran Chapel, First Baptist Church Gaffney, Limestone Presbyterian Church, and Grassy Pond Baptist Church.

The concert was originally scheduled to take place in November, but was re-scheduled for December 8 due to a conflict with that initial date.