On Sunday, Dec. 8, take a break from the holiday rush to attend The University of Tampa’s annual holiday concert, Let Heaven and Nature Sing: A Holiday Celebration. There will be two performances, at 2 and 4 p.m., in the Sykes Chapel and Center for Faith and Values. The program is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. Doors open 30 minutes before the concert.
The program includes seasonal music and readings, and the audience will have the opportunity to sing along with several selections, including O Come All Ye Faithful, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing and Joy to the World.
“As always, the concert promotes unity and peace, and ushers in the holiday season. It’s become a tradition at UT and one that has developed a great following. Everyone always comments on how much they enjoy it, and how they look forward to it year after year. It’s a lot of work, but it’s a worthwhile effort that brings the community together in ways that are very satisfying,” said Hebert.
Performing at the concert will be UT’s Chamber Singers and Camerata Singers, conducted by Hebert. The concert will also include a brass ensemble comprised of James Kluesner and Joshua Lurie, trumpets; Brandon McDannald, horn; and Stan Wilkerson, trombone. The guest pianists will be Grigorios Zamparas and Corey Merenda, and the organist will be Dwight Thomas.
The concert will also be filmed to be broadcast in the future on WEDU.
“It’s been an interesting experience preparing for this filming. Preparing for a live performance is one thing, but when there is an entire crew involved with invasive camera work, it could pose a challenge. But the students are excited,” said Ryan Hebert, associate professor of music and director of choral studies at UT.
The concert is part of the 2019-2020 Sykes Chapel Concert Artist Series. For more information, contact [email protected] or go to ut.edu/sykeschapel.
The University of Tampa is a private, residential university located on 110 acres on the riverfront in downtown Tampa. Known for academic excellence, personal attention and real-world experience in its undergraduate and graduate programs, the University serves approximately 10,000 students from 50 states and 132 countries. The majority of full-time students live on campus, and about half of UT students are from Florida.
