The Kentucky Wesleyan Singers will present the College’s annual Festival of Lessons & Carols on Dec. 1 and 2 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Stephen Cathedral at 610 Locust St. in Owensboro.
“The holiday season would not be complete without Kentucky Wesleyan’s sixth annual Festival of Lessons & Carols at the glorious St. Stephen Cathedral,” said Dr. Bradley Naylor, Wesleyan’s director of choral music. “The Kentucky Wesleyan Singers will sing anthems on the themes of love, redemption and expectation. They will perform music from the sixth century to the modern day written by Kodaly, Chilcott, Kirchner and others. Attendees will add their voices to the celebration by singing well-loved carols.”
The singers will premiere two new pieces written by Dr. Naylor, who became the director of choral music at Kentucky Wesleyan College in 2013 after completing his doctoral degree in choral conducting at the Yale School of Music. In addition to his work at Wesleyan, Dr. Naylor directs the Owensboro Symphony Chorus and is a sought-after choral clinician and tenor soloist in the tri-state area.
The Festival of Lessons & Carols, a tradition begun in England on Christmas Eve in 1880, weaves scripture readings and carols of the season in stirring homage to the birth of Christ. A much-beloved version of the festival began at King’s College, Cambridge, in 1918, and is broadcast worldwide every Christmas Eve.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for seniors and students with I.D. and are available at kwc.edu or by calling Peggie Greer at 270-852-3117.
