The members of the Baylor School Choirs will present their annual holiday concert at 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 17, in the Alumni Chapel on campus. This festive event will feature holiday music and traditional favorites performed by the school’s Middle School, Upper School, and Faculty/Staff choirs.
Baylor’s Concert Choir will perform Franz Beibl’s setting of Ave Maria, G. F. Handel’s Awake the Trumpet’s Lofty Sound, a modern setting of the text Exsultate Justi by American composer Brant Adams, and the Nigerian carol Bethelehemu, complete with African percussion.
Middle School choirs will perform such favorites as The Night Before Christmas by Ruth Artman, Hannukah Shalom by Ruth Elaine Schram, Christmas Bells by Ed Harris, and the Catalonian carol Riu, Riu, Chiu.
Baylor’s Faculty/Staff choir will perform a setting of the Hebrew text Al Shlosha D’Varim by Allan Naplan. The choir will also be joined by the Concert Choir for the popular holiday song Walking in a Winter Wonderland and for a performance of Why We Sing at Christmas by American jazz legend Dave Brubeck. Mr. Brubeck – who passed away on Dec. 5 – had several local ties to the Chattanooga area. Upon learning of his passing, the choirs were eager to learn and perform this lesser known work by the famous jazz artist who was also a prolific composer of choral music.
The Baylor School choirs are directed by Vincent Oakes and are accompanied by Penny Tullock. Tom Shields will play the organ prior to the concert and during the performance while members of the audience sing familiar carols.
A special “Holiday Social” will precede the concert in the chapel’s reception area, featuring hot chocolate and holiday cookies. This special offering is provided by the Baylor Backers, a booster club committed to supporting Baylor’s arts and athletics programs. A shuttle is also being provided for concert guests from the parking lot adjacent to Worsham arena to the Student Center parking area (next to the chapel).