Nova Singers Christmas Concert

Nova Singers, a professional vocal ensemble founded and directed by Laura Lane, professor of music at Knox College, performs its annual holiday concert, A Nova Christmas, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, December 18 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport, Iowa, and 7:30 p.m., Saturday, December 19, at First Lutheran Church, Galesburg.

Tickets are available at the door. Information is available from the Nova Singers website, http://departments.knox.edu/novasingers/

Lane founded Nova Singers in 1986. The 20-voice ensemble has developed a nation-wide reputation for expressiveness, virtuosity and innovative programming. Nova Singers has performed at state, regional and national conventions of the American Choral Directors Association, and has received numerous grants from the Illinois Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.

A Nova Christmas: Program Selections
Prelude Ola Gjeilo
A la nanita nana, from Two Spanish Carols arr. Andrew Carter; Erika Thomas, soprano
The Three Kings, Healey Willan
Down in Yon Forest, arr. Andrew Carter
Ave Maria, Robert Parsons
Hodie Christus natus est, Jan P. Sweelinck
The First Noel, arr. Darmon Meader
The Twelve Days of Christmas, arr. Geoffrey Keating
Gabriel's Message, Stephen Paulus
Il est né, le divin enfant, arr. J. David Moore
Choral Meditation on Lo, How a Rose, Dan Godsill; World Premiere commissioned by Nova Singers
We Three Kings, arr. Darmon Meader
Ave Maria, Franz Biebl
In the Bleak Midwinter, Holst, arr. Abbie Betinis
Rejoice and Be Merry, John Rutter
A Haitian Noël, Emile Desamours
This Little Light of Mine, arr. Moses Hogan
Good Christian Men Rejoice, arr. Darmon Meader
The Shepherd's Carol, Bob Chilcott
Deck the Hall, arr. James McKelvy
New Year, John Rutter
Jingle Bells, arr. Gordon Langford

Guest Choirs for A Nova Christmas 2009:
In Galesburg - The Carl Sandburg College Children's Choir; Jessica Stiller, director
In Davenport: Sudbury Intermediate School Choir; Diane Carius, director

Nova Singers Recordings:

Mid-winter: Features holiday favorites Deck the Hall and Mary Had a Baby. Also included are new classics from Bob Chilcott (Mid-winter; The Shepherd's Carol) and Mark Sirett (Thou Shalt Know Him).

There Is No Rose: Christmas carols, such as Sirett's Balulalow, Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, as well as works written especially for Nova Singers.

Constellation: Songs selected from the ensemble's first thirteen seasons, among them, Les Chansons des Roses, White Horses, and the popular Annie Laurie.

Behold a Star: A celebration of the holiday season in song, including Still, Still, Still, Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day, and Deck the Hall.

Nova Singers CDs are available by contacting the Nova Singers office, 309-341-7038 or by email: nova@knox.edu