The choirs of Ashland University will be welcoming the holiday season with the annual Festival of Lights ceremony Sunday, November 21 in the Jack and Deb Miller Chapel. The Festival will include scripture readings, as well as several choral songs and, of course, familiar Christmas carols.

The event is free, but people are encouraged to bring a donation of canned goods. It begins at 7:00p.m with an extended organ prelude “in case people come late,” Dr. Rowland Blackley, director of choral activities, said, “but good luck finding a seat.”

“The room is just abounding joy and it puts everyone in a Christmas spirit,” Stephanie Sikora, one of the choir directors involved in the performance.

Three choirs will be participating for a total of approximately 160 singers. The University Choir will be singing “This is the Record of John,” “Sweet was the Song,” “For Unto Us a Child is Born” and “Christmas Eve.”

The Ashland Area Chorus will sing “And the Glory of the Lord,” “While by My Sheep” and “Glory to God.”

Women’s Chorus will be performing “Oh, the Saviors Comin’, Hallelu!,” “How Far is it to Bethlehem,” “Candlelight Carol” and “Laudate Dominum.”

There will be three different soloists during the performances by the Women’s Chorus. Senior soprano Courtney Long and senior alto Kara Smith-Whitcomb will both have solos during “Oh, the Saviors Comin’, Hallelu!” and sophomore mezzo Jennifer Holderman will have a solo during “How Far is it to Bethlehem.”

There will also be multiple hymns, including “O come O come, Emmanuel,” “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” “O Come All Ye Faithful” and “Joy to the World,” in which the audience is encouraged to join.

Eventually, all three choirs will combine to sing “Hallelujah” by G. F. Handel before what is perhaps the most familiar part of the ceremony – the candle lighting and the singing of the well-known hymn “Silent Night.”

“The chapel is usually filled to capacity,” Sikora said, “and when everyone is singing ‘Silent Night,’ holding a lit candle, the glow is very special and meaningful, and you can just feel God’s presence. It’s breathtaking…and then Dr. Guenther breaks into ‘Go, Tell It on the Mountain.'”

In addition to the Festival of Lights, there will be several other musical performances to bring in the holiday season. The Ashland University Jazz, Percussion, Wind, and Brass Ensembles will hold a performance November 22 and the Ashland Area Community Concert Band will perform November 30, both in the Hugo Young Theater. Also, the 35th annual Madrigal Feaste will take place December 1 through 5 in Redwood Hall. Tickets for the Madrigal Feaste may be purchased by calling 419-289-5125.