RC
Rebecca Coyne
  • Class of 2012
  • Naperville, IL

Rebecca Coyne performs in expanded Christmas at Augustana

2009 Nov 25

Christmas at Augustana, a holiday concert featuring choir, band and orchestra ensembles, will return to Centennial Hall (3703 7th Ave.) in early December with an expanded schedule. Augustana student musicians and vocalists will perform on Friday, December 4, at 8 p.m. and Saturday, December 5, at 4 p.m. The music department added another concert this year after the ensembles played to a sold-out crowd at last year's inaugural concert.

The concerts are truly an "advent of the Advent season," says Dr. Daniel Culver, orchestra director and department co-chair. "I look forward to working again with all of my colleagues in an ensemble effort. It is a marvelous opportunity for our students and audience alike. In the development of the program, we focused on bringing a sense of unity to the program and how it works with each ensemble."

Audience members will experience a true celebration of Christmas with performances by seven ensembles, including the Symphony Orchestra, Brass Ensemble, Augustana Choir, Jenny Lind Vocal Ensemble, Ascension Singers, Wennerberg Men's Chorus and Cantilena Augustana, and the world premiere of "Veni Emmanuel (Come Emmanuel)" arranged by Augustana music faculty member Dr. David Davies.

Dr. Jon Hurty, director of choral activities and department co-chair, says the opportunity to commission a new work is an added learning experience. "This adds an entirely new creative element to the program and exposes the students to great music that was written specifically for the occasion," says Hurty.

"Bring your best singing voice," reminds Culver. The concerts also feature several well-known congregational hymns for a sing-along during the program.

Rebecca Coyne from Naperville, IL is among this year's performers. Coyne is a sophomore at Augustana and is majoring in biology and pre-Medicine.

The Celebration of Christmas at Augustana is one of a series of performances planned for the Christmas season. The Handel Oratorio Society will perform Messiah on Saturday, December 12, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, December 13, at 2 p.m. at Centennial Hall. The long-standing tradition, which began in 1879, involves more than 200 choir members from Augustana and the Quad-City community as well as a professional orchestra.

The Augustana Chamber Singers and Office of Campus Ministries will present Lessons and Carols on Thursday, December 17, at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. This beautiful Christmas service chronicles Christ's birth through song and readings in Ascension Chapel (820 38th St). This event is free and open to the public.

To order tickets for Christmas at Augustana or Messiah, log onto www.augustana.edu/tickets or call (309) 794-7306.