AU’s Festival of Lights will be Sunday, Dec. 8

ASHLAND, Ohio – The 33rd edition of Ashland University’s Festival of Lights, a collaboration between the choral music program and the Office of Christian Ministry, will take place Sunday, Dec. 8. The Advent candlelight service starts at 7 p.m., at Jack and Deb Miller Chapel.

AU’s Festival of Lights communicates the birth of Jesus Christ through verse and song. It consists of scripture readings, seasonal choral music and hymns by the AU Choir, the AU Chamber Singers and the Ashland Area Chorus and a “Silent Night” candle-lighting ritual.

All three choruses are led by Rowland Blackley, professor of music and director of choral activities at AU. The organists will be Luke Tegtmeier and Robert Mouledoux, while AU President Jon Parrish Peede and his wife, Rev. Nancy Hollomon-Peede, will serve as readers.

A wide-ranging set of musical selections will be performed. They include “A Spotless Rose,” an anthem written in 1919 by Herbert Howells; “What Sweeter Music” and “Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day,” arranged by respective English composers John Rutter and David Willcocks, both known for their sacred Christmas choral pieces; Christopher Maxim’s “I Sing of a Maiden;” “We’ll Dress the House” by Alfred Burt, an American jazz musician; and “The Shepherds Sing” by Richard DeLong.

Also, there will be classic Christmas hymns, such as “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” “What Child Is This,” “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” “Joy to the World” and “O Come, All Ye Faithful.”

For more information, contact Rowland Blackley at 419-289-5114 or rblackle@ashland.edu.