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This week on Performance Oklahoma: Christmas Vespers 2015

Celebrating its 37th season, a Christmas Vespers is presented each year at Oklahoma City University. 250 University singers and instrumentalists gather to offer the service designed to acknowledge the Advent season. A collage of music, much of it from the great choral composers of this century and centuries past also includes songs and carols from many traditions; each of these works prefaced by a reading of scripture or poetry. Offered in two services, the first, given on Friday, December 11th and the second (featured in this broadcast,) presented on Saturday, December 12th, at First Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City, the program featured four University choirs, University organist Melissa Plamann, guest narrator Kay Holt, the OCU Vespers Orchestra, and conductors Randi von Ellefson, Judith Willoughby and Eric Garcia - each service concluding in candlelight.

The tradition of an annual Christmas Concert in the chapel on the Oklahoma City University campus began in 1978. A program of sacred and secular music, it evolved over the years, but has always featured several University choirs, organ and orchestra. In 2004, the concert was renamed Christmas Vespers, with readings and audience participation added to create the character and feel of an Advent service. And in 2014, to better accommodate audience and participant numbers, the services were moved to First Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City.

This program airs Saturday, December 26th, 8pm on Classical 88.7 HD-1.