Crystal Lake church hots family Christmas concert

Submitted by First Congregational

First Congregational Church, 461 Pierson St. in Crystal Lake, presents its annual family Christmas concert, ”Behold New Joy,” at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, featuring FCC’s 50-member adult Vestry Choir, the Jubilate Handbell Choir and the Alleluia Sound High School Choir, under the leadership team of Ann Tucker, director of music; Barbara Thorsen and Jo Ann Black, accompanists; and Toni Gambini, Bellmaster.

“Behold New Joy,” arranged by contemporary composer Shawn Kirchner and commissioned by the Los Angeles Masters Chorale in 2011, is the central work for the concert. It features five ancient carols imaginatively arranged for mixed voices and organ from the “Piae Cantiones,” a medieval Latin carol book first published in 1582.

Vestry Choir also will perform Donald Fraser’s “Jessye’s Carol,” or “This Christmastide,” as well as Miller’s arrangement of “My Dancing Day,” accompanied by flutist Kaitlyn Konzak.

The Alleluia Sound high school choir will perform an arrangement of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” by Philip Kern and “Psallite,” written by Michael Praetorius (1571-1621).

Jubilate Handbell Choir will perform favorites such as Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride” “Danse Russe Trepak” from the “Nutcracker,” as well as carols from around the world, including the Puerto Rican “Carol of the Wise Men,” Burgundian “Pat-a-Pan” and French “First Noel.”

Audience members and performers alike will enjoy singing familiar carols together during a portion of the program.

For information, call the church office at (815) 459-6010 or visit www.fcc-cl.org. The public is invited to attend this free holiday program; a freewill offering will be received. Doors will open at 3:30 p.m.