USF’s Schola Cantorum celebrates Christmas with How Brightly Shines the Morning Star
University of St. Francis Schola Cantorum and Chamber Singers will present their 13th annual Christmas concert, How Brightly Shines the Morning Star: Lessons and Carols for Christmas, on Dec. 9-10. The concert features a variety of works for Advent and Christmas, including music by J.S. Bach, G.F. Handel, and J.C.F. Bach, the Gregorian Chant, Renaissance polyphony and carols in several languages.
Schola Cantorum and Chamber Singers, USF’s student choirs, will perform at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9 and 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10 in the Moser Performing Arts Center auditorium. The Thursday, Dec. 9 performance is a "sneak preview" and admission is free. Admission to the Friday, Dec. 10 concert is $8 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens. Ticket reservations may be made by calling (815)740-3404.
Patrick Brannon, USF professor of music, is the director of the choirs, which will be accompanied by Beverly Holt on piano and organ. Also featured in the concert is narrator Timothy Weldon, USF assistant professor of philosophy; the USF Chamber Singers; and soloists Nina Lennon, Nicholas Matesevac, Carrie Monaco and Maria Zavala, all of Joliet; Amanda Welsh of Minooka; Therese Miller and Kathryn Wengelewski of Plainfield; Joshua T. Mancuso of Shorewood; and Jacky Radowicz of Bolingbrook.
Other members of the USF Schola Cantorum include: Mark Cepon, Michele Hernandez, Nicole Lopez and John Scatera of Joliet; Nicole J. Edgar of Rockdale, Brian F. Herbst, Candace Saganiuk and Sarah Scott of Plainfield; Nicholas Cerovac of Shorewood; Kara Sterioti-Ferry of Lockport; Brittany Hoffman of Frankfort; Amanda Mai Yang of Lemont; Lacey Petrella of Minooka; Aaron M. Gilmore, Debra Gilmore and Lera Tuskey of Morris; Stephanie Whyte of Wilmington; LaToya Riley of Bolingbrook; Tina Middleton of Coal City; Jamie Purcell of Elwood; Michael R. Roszyk of Bolingbrook; Katherine A. Phillips of Park Forest; Ronald Clay of Richton Park; Kevin Leonard of Palos Park; David Murray of Franklin Park; Christopher J. Ford, Racette Miranda and Joseph Zordan of Chicago; and Jessica Jannusch of Robbinsdale, Minnesota.
The University of St. Francis, at 500 Wilcox St. in Joliet, serves more than 4,300 students nationwide. Undergraduate programs are offered in arts and sciences, business, education, nursing and social work. Graduate programs are also offered in business, education and health care.