Nov. 17, 2008

Whitworth to Present 2008 Christmas Festival Concert, "Gaudete! Rejoice! Heaven and Earth Are Full of Thy Glory"

The 2008 Whitworth University Christmas Festival Concert, "Gaudete! Rejoice! Heaven and Earth Are Full of Thy Glory," will take place in Bellevue, Seattle and Spokane, and will feature the Whitworth Choir and the Whitworth Women's Choir, accompanied by brass and wind student ensembles and organ. For more information, please call (509) 777-3280.

The concert will include Anders Öhrwall's Gaudete, a setting of 10 Christmas melodies from a 16th Century Swedish songbook for mixed chorus, two flutes and bassoon. Other featured works include Kyrie and Gloria, from György Orbán's Mass No. 6; J.S. Bach's sixth motet, Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden; and the traditional performance of David Willcocks' setting of O Come, All Ye Faithful, for audience, choirs, brass, organ and percussion.

The Whitworth Choir will perform under the direction of Marc A. Hafso, professor of music and director of choral activities. The Whitworth Women's Choir will perform under the direction of Debbie Hansen, associate director of choral activities. Diana Trotter, professor of theatre, will serve as narrator, and John Bodinger will be the organist. Mac Merchant and Bonnie Robinson will serve as pianists.

Following is concert and ticket information for each performance location:

• Bellevue
  When: Saturday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m.
  Where: First Presbyterian Church of Bellevue, 1717 Bellevue Way NE

• Seattle
  When: Sunday, Dec. 7, at 3 p.m.
  Where: First Presbyterian Church of Seattle, 1013 8th Ave.

• Spokane
  When: Friday, Dec. 12, at 8 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 13, at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
  Where: First Presbyterian Church of Spokane, 318 S. Cedar St.  

Tickets: $18 general admission, $15 for students and seniors 62 and older. Tickets for the Bellevue, Seattle and Spokane concerts may be purchased by calling (800) 532-4668. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.whitworth.edu/musictickets or at the information desk in the Hixson Union Building at Whitworth. A limited number of tickets may also be available for purchase at the door prior to each concert.

Located in Spokane, Wash., Whitworth is a private, liberal arts university affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). The university, which has an enrollment of 2,600 students, offers 53 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

Contacts:

Marc A. Hafso, professor of music and director of choral activities, Whitworth University, (509) 777-4589 or mhafso@whitworth.edu.

Joan Lack or Loree Swegle, music department program assistants, Whitworth University, (509) 777-3280 or jlack@whitworth.edu or lswegle@whitworth.edu.

Emily Proffitt, public information officer, Whitworth University, (509) 777-4703 or eproffitt@whitworth.edu.