Concerts set for December

Cornell College’s Music Department will present two concerts in December: A choral holiday concert on Dec. 7, and a jazz ensemble concert on Dec. 10.

The holiday choral concert will be in King Chapel at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 7. The theme is “Joy, Joy to my Soul.” The 65 member concert choir will celebrate the centennial of Benjamin Britten’s birth with three pieces from “A Ceremony of Carols.” New college organist Brett Wolgast will be featured in two pieces with the choir: “There Shall a Star Come Out of Jacob” by Felix Mendelssohn and “The Shepherds Sing,” a motet for choir and organ virtuoso. Senior Mikael Bryant is the featured horn soloist in Paul Basler’s “Alleluia.” Other pieces include Moses Hogan’s spiritual “I Can Tell the World,” and Morten Lauridsen’s motet “O Nata Lux.”

The chamber singers, Cornell’s select 22-voice ensemble, will perform Palestrina’s motet “Exultate Deo,” John Rutter’s “What Sweeter Music,” and a selection of jazz carols and spirituals.

The pianist for the concert is Joyce Strabala. The choirs are under the direction of Lisa Hearne, professor of music.

The jazz ensemble concert will be in Kimmel Theatre at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 10. The ensemble will perform “Sweet Georgia Brown,” “At the Oasis,” “Superstition,” “Children of Sanchez,” and more under the direction of Dr. Martin Hearne, professor of music.