Hickory – The joy of the holiday season comes alive during Lenoir-Rhyne’s annual concert, “A Lenoir-Rhyne Christmas.”
A long-standing tradition enjoyed by many, the university invites the community to begin the Advent-Christmas season with music. Tickets are available to the general public on Monday, Nov. 15, 2021. All performances will be in Grace Chapel. Guests are encouraged to be seated 15 minutes before the event starts.
Thursday, Dec. 2 – 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 3 – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 4 – 5 or 7:30 p.m.
The Saturday evening performance at 7:30 p.m. will be livestreamed and accessed at lr.edu.
The concert will feature the A Cappella Choir, College Singers, Brass Ensemble, a string quartet, the chapel’s pipe organ and additional student instrumentalists.
This year’s theme, “Fling Wide the Gates” is inspired by Psalm 24, a Biblical passage often associated with the Advent season. A new setting of the hymn “Prepare the Royal Highway,” arranged by Paul Weber, professor of music emeritus, will be premiered. Stanza three of the hymn references Psalm 24 with the text, “then fling the gates wide open,” which also bears resemblance to a line in the refrain of LR’s alma mater, “fling wide the red and black.”
“A Lenoir-Rhyne Christmas allows us to tell the Christmas story through music,” said Ryan Luhrs, Ph.D., associate professor of music and director of choral activities. “Advent is a time of preparation when Christians ‘fling wide’ their hearts in preparation for the birth of the Christ child. Of course, the words ‘fling wide’ also hold a particular meaning on the LR campus. We look forward to welcoming family, friends, alumni and community back on campus for this cherished event.”
Familiar carols such as “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” “Once in Royal David’s City,” “People, Look East,” and Dan Forrest’s arrangement of “O Little Town of Bethlehem” will be sung. The program will also include music by Juan-Tony Guzmán, Zach Busch, Michael Praetorious, J.S. Bach, Camille Saint-Saens, Gwyneth Walker, Zebulon Highben and John Ness Beck.
In addition to Luhrs, faculty collaborating on the concerts include Jeana Neal Borman, accompanist, Cory Westby, university cantor, and Todd Cutter, university pastor and director of spiritual life. Christopher Nigrelli, DMA, professor of music, leads the brass ensemble. LR senior Ashley Hood will be a featured student conductor.
Seating is limited, and tickets are required. Tickets are free for all concert dates and may be picked up at the LR Box Office in P.E. Monroe Auditorium beginning Monday, Nov. 15. The LR Box Office is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Ticketholders are limited to a maximum of four tickets. A standby line will be available for those who cannot reserve a ticket. Although no guarantees can be made, historically, all in the standby line have been seated. Those with unused tickets are strongly encouraged to return them to the box office. Returned tickets will be made available to the public one hour before each performance. Call 828.328.7206 for ticket information.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, certain protocols need to be followed. Please follow lr.edu/coronavirus for proper procedures on attending Lenoir-Rhyne events. Safe distancing between guests and masks are required for all audience members regardless of vaccination status.
