Known as the college’s Christmas gift to the Greater Bluefield community, Christmas at Bluefield is open and free to the public as an annual celebration of the birth of Christ through choral performances, carol singing, and scripture readings. The production will feature students and professors from BC’s Music and Theatre departments, along with voices from the community.
Based on the theme “Christmas in the Americas,” Christmas at Bluefield will feature four BC music ensembles, including three vocal groups — Variations, Praise Singers and Masterworks Chorale — and the school’s Concert Band.
A select student voice ensemble that performs regularly on campus, regionally at such prestigious venues as Carnegie Hall and even abroad on international mission trips, Variations will sing “Carols and Lullabies: Christmas in the Southwest,” a collection of 10 Spanish-language Christmas carols arranged by American composer Conrad Susa.
Masterworks Chorale, a large choral group combining voices from Bluefield College and the community, will join Variations for the performance of “Carols and Lullabies.” Together, the two groups, under the direction of Dr. Ben Thorburn, BC assistant professor of music and director of vocal studies, will sing the carols and lullabies in Spanish and English.
A group of select student vocalists and a Christian praise band also under the direction of Dr. Thorburn, Praise Singers will perform a variety of favorite Christmas songs in a contemporary style. In fact, Praise Singers specializes in contemporary Christian music, having participated in a number of recording projects, performed regionally at churches and schools, and served as a worship team on the BC campus.
BC’s Concert Band, under the direction of Dr. Charles Priest, assistant professor of music and director of instrumental studies, will perform “A Celebration of Carols,” a medley of traditional Christmas harmonies, along with “Moon of Winter,” a setting of the Canadian “Huron Carol.” The Concert Band will also accompany the congregational carol singing.
Bluefield College theatre professors Charles Reese and Rebecca McCoy-Reese will provide dramatic scripture readings for the program. A reception hosted by BC president Dr. David Olive will follow the production and will include hot cider, coffee and holiday treats. For more information, please contact the Bluefield College Office of Public Relations by email at [email protected] or by phone at 276-326-4212.