GREENVILLE, PA – Thiel College will hold its annual holiday Christmas Festival on Sunday, Dec. 2 at 4 p.m. in the college’s William A. Passavant Center. The concert, entitled “Jesu Parvule,” will feature the Thiel Choir, the Thiel Chamber Singers and the Thiel Handbell Ringers, under the director of Dr. Michael R. Bray, professor of music, and accompanied by Kathryn Gray on the piano and organ.

The concert will feature “Jesu Parvule,” meaning “little Jesus,” one of two Alfred Burt carols that will be performed. Other pieces include the “Magnificat” and “O Magnum Mysterium,” pieces which tell the story of Mary proclaiming the greatness of the Lord and the great mystery of the Christ child.  Music by American composers Daniel Pinkham, Bob Chilcott and David Dickau and English composers John Tavener and William Matthias also will be featured. Christmas readings will be interspersed among the musical selections.

The Christmas Festival, established by Dr. Marlowe Johnson in 1953, was held for many years in the Rissell Gymnasium. Today, Thiel’s student musicians perform in the Passavant Center and continue the tradition of designing, building and painting the set for the concert.

The concert is free and the public is encouraged to come and welcome in the holiday season. Free-will offerings will be accepted. For further information call Bray at 724-589-2149.

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