NOVEMBER 17, 2008 -- Pfeiffer University will usher in the holiday season with its highly anticipated annual Christmas concerts featuring two of the university’s ensembles. The Concert Choir and Wind Ensemble will unite to present two separate performances of a traditional holiday concert on Sunday, Dec. 7.

The festive programs will include many traditional favorites in classic and new settings. The first performance will begin at 4 p.m. and an evening concert will start at 7 p.m. Both events, which are free and open to the public, will be held in the Henry Pfeiffer Chapel on the Misenheimer campus.

Selections from the concert choir, led by Joe Judge, director of choral and vocal activities, will include “Cantate Domino” by Italian composer Giuseppe Ottavio Pitoni. Pfeiffer brass will join the choir in performing “Gloria” from Sinfonia Sacra by American composer Daniel Pinkham.

The Wind Ensemble, directed by Ed Kiefer, director of instrumental music and assistant professor of music, will perform Percy Grainger’s beautiful setting of the Sussex Mummers Christmas Carol.

The Concert Choir and Wind Ensemble will join to perform “Today is the Gift,” a work by American composer Samuel Hazo, based on traditional African music as well as Alfred Reed’s beautiful setting of “Greensleeves.” The combined ensembles will also present the traditional carols “O Holy Night” and “O Come All Ye Faithful” as arranged by John Rutter.  

The Christmas Concert is a Pfeiffer tradition enjoyed by the community for many years. The public is cordially invited to attend. For more information about Pfeiffer’s annual Christmas performances, please contact David Kirby, associate professor of music, at (704) 463-3182 or david.kirby@pfeiffer.edu.