November 19, 2007
Lyon College News Bureau

Annual 'Festival of Lessons and Carols' to be presented Dec. 2; will feature Lyon Flute Choir

The annual “Festival of Lessons and Carols,” sponsored by the music department of Lyon College, will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, at the Christian Science Society of Batesville, College and 18^th streets.

Admission is free and the public in invited.

The program uses the traditional English format of nine Christmas carols and nine Christmas readings from the Bible. The church features superb acoustics and an internationally renowned Dutch pipe organ situated in the rear gallery.

Performing the prelude and three of the carols will be the Lyon College Flute Choir, under the direction of Laura Bauman Stinson. This ensemble is now in its 11th year and numbers roughly 10 flutists. The group performs on flutes at different pitch, including alto and bass flute. Its membership includes Lyon students and faculty as well as community members.

Also participating will be two Lyon students, classical guitarist Seth Flood and soprano Katherine Wheeler, and Lyon alumnus Kevin Jackson. Mr. Flood will perform “What Child is This,” “Silent Night,” and J. S. Bach’s beloved setting of “Sleepers Wake.” Ms. Wheeler will sing “O Come, O Come, Emanuel” and Gustav Holst’s “In the Bleak Midwinter.” Mr. Jackson will chant Psalm 122, in accordance with that psalm’s designation for the first Sunday in Advent.

At the organ will be Russell Stinson, the College Organist, who will play Christmas carols before the service, accompany the congregation on two carols, and perform a Bach postlude after the service.

The readers of the scripture passages include members of the flute choir, Lyon students and faculty, and members of the Batesville community. George Lankford, an emeritus professor at Lyon, will preside.