Font Size: A A A

More than 130 singers from three Bluefield College voice ensembles and six local church choirs, along with 25 instrumentalists in BC’s Community Orchestra combined to perform the season’s most “amazing,” “moving” and “inspiring” Christmas production, December 1 and 3.

Chris Shoemaker

December 6, 2012

Known as the college’s Christmas gift to the Greater Bluefield community, “Christmas at Bluefield” featured singers from BC’s select voice ensembles Variations, Bluefield Singers and Masterworks Chorale, along with vocalists from choirs from First Baptist Church-Bluefield, Bland Street United Methodist Church, Trinity United Methodist Church, First United Methodist Church-Richlands, First Christian Church-Bluefield and Westminster Presbyterian Church.

	View more photos. Photos courtesy of Chip Hurley.
	View more photos. Photos courtesy of Chip Hurley.

“We were blown away by this!” said Tim Hall, a BC parent who traveled from Roanoke, Virginia, to attend ‘Christmas at Bluefield.’ “The music, choir, narration and slide show were simply awesome.”

Under the overall creative direction of Charles Reese, head of the BC Theatre Department, the production included the singing of traditional carols, spirituals, contemporary Christian songs, and new choral selections. Offered on capacity crowds in BC’s Harman Chapel on both December 1 and 3, the program also featured multimedia presentations, drama and scripture.

“This was a wonderful opportunity for the campus and community at-large to come together to worship the Christ child,” said Bryant Moxley, head of BC’s Department of Music and musical director for ‘Christmas at Bluefield.’ “We pray that God will bless all those in attendance with a fresh awareness of the significance of the child whosebirth we celebrate.”

In addition to BC’s Music Department, the program featured the school’s Theatre Department in dramatic portrayals of the Christmas story. Titled “The Word Became Flesh,” the production was designed to be a celebration of the birth of Christ.

“It ministered to us as a reminder that the Word truly became flesh when God chose to give us Jesus as our savior, redeemer and friend,” said Hall. “For my wife and I, it further reinforced the fact that we are so proud our daughter, Katey, is attending Bluefield. This school has become an extension of our family, and we thank you for boldly teaching and sharing the message of Christ.”
Both performances were followed by a reception for attendees, and both the concert and reception were open andfree to the public.

“’Christmas at Bluefield’ is our gift to the community,” said Moxley. “Ultimately, it is our gift to God, a gift of praise and worship in response to His ultimate gift of the Christ child.”

Comments: