When I was in “design mode” for my first year of Director of Music, I knew I wanted to establish a framework for events to further amplify our Sunday liturgies, to reach a broader community and offer ‘against-the-grain’ ideas that perhaps wouldn’t work in a traditional Evensong or liturgical format. What popped in to my head instantly was an annual concert in Advent, that could facilitate all our various music groups coming together and offering a large-scale, celebratory, musical mosaic for the season. The idea became a Festival of Carols, and could be a great opportunity for individuals in our wider community to attend, especially visitors who are less aware of our thriving music program.

What is different about this Carol concert, is that it is just that: a concert, not the traditional Festival of Lessons and Carols that King’s College, Cambridge has popularized over the years. The King’s service is very much a time for prayer and remembering our history from Genesis through the prophets, and hearing the story of Christ’s birth. Our event is a celebratory, festal, feel-good event that will open all of our hearts into the Christmas spirit, as we sing together several seasonal selections and enjoy fellowship at a reception afterward. You will hear selections from the Handbell Choir, Schola Cantorum, String Ensemble, Brass Choir, Parish Choir, and Children and Youth Choirs, with music ranging from 9th century Gregorian chant to 21st century anthems, as well as an opportunity to participate with singing Carols.

Some of the selections you will hear are: Felix Mendelssohn’s anthem, Sleepers Wake; John Rutter’s Angels’ Carol; Ola Gjeilo’s Spotless Rose; Eric Whitacre’s Lux Aurumque; movements from Corelli’s Christmas Concerto, and several other pieces by Bach, Handel, di Lasso, Willcocks, and many more. The congregation will be singing eight Carols with organ, string, and brass accompaniment, featuring brilliant harmonies and descants offered by the choir. In the future, the event hopefully will become an annual Poway community event that could be offered multiple times on a weekend to facilitate popular demand.

Something I will always hearken to in my programming is my philosophy for accessibility, diversity, and variety. I like for every musical offering to have something for everyone, and this concert will undoubtedly fuel every soul, from every lover of Christmas to even Scrooge himself. I encourage you all to attend, and bring a friend, family member, or neighbor as we offer our community an arena for great joy and celebration in this Christmas season.