USF’s Schola Cantorum to present In the Bleak Midwinter: Carols for Christmas
In
the Bleak Midwinter: Carols for Christmas, the
11th annual holiday concert by the University
of St. Francis’ Schola Cantorum student choir,
will be presented Thursday and Friday, Dec. 5-6.
A popular community holiday tradition, the Schola
Cantorum Christmas concert is presented to sold-out
audiences.
This
season’s concert will feature traditional
carols and works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Michael
Praetorius, Ralph Vaughn Williams, Gustav Holst
and John Rutter. Additionally, an original piece
by USF students Richard Susner and Joseph Van
Der Bosch, "Wrap Him in Harmony," will
be premiered at the concert, according to Patrick
Brannon, director of USF’s Schola Cantorum
and Chamber Singers
The
2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5 concert is a "sneak
preview" and admission is free. Admission
to the 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6 concert is $8
for adults and $5 for students and seniors. Make
ticket reservations by calling the Fine Arts ticket
office at (815) 740-3404. The concerts will be
in the Moser Performing Arts Center auditorium.
Featured
student soloists for the concert will be Amanda
Decamp, Nina Lennon, Joshua Mancuso, LaToya Riley
and Ruben Valadez from Joliet, Megan Mullen and
Kathryn Wengelewski from Plainfield, Stephanie
Whyte from Wilmington, Elizabeth Vlahos from Manhattan
and Kevin Keller from Decatur.
The
Schola Cantorum includes Meajean Bernal, LoLisha
Dixon, Italy Dorsey, Clare Gawlik, Eleise Rogacki,
Ryan Ruffatti and Maria Zavala from Joliet; Richard
Susner from Crest Hill; Therese Miller from Plainfield;
Joshua Mancuso from Shorewood; Phillip Lee from
Frankfort; Nathan Edwards and Michael Roszyk from
Bolingbrook; Julie Cook and Diedra Duncan from
Ottawa; Tina Middleton and Cindy Onderisin from
Morris; Amanda Welsh from Minooka, Amy Vicich
from Marseilles; Cathleen McLaughlin from Alsip;
Carrie Monaco from Aurora; Mary Wollgast from
Gardner; Katherine Phillips from Park Forest;
Kevin Leonard from Palos Park; Joe Van Der Bosch
from Kildeer; Patrick Vena from Downers Grove
and Jamin Gahm from Freeport.
Beverly
Holt will accompany the Schola Cantorum and Mary
Beth Diab, the Chamber Singers. USF student Amar
Williams of Plainfield will read lessons.
The University of St. Francis is at 500 Wilcox St. in Joliet. The university serves more than 4,300 students nationwide, including 1,300 at its Joliet campus. USF offers more than 60 areas of undergraduate study and 10 graduate programs.