New faces add flair to community tradition of Thiel College’s 67th Annual Christmas Festival

Posted December 02, 2019 Print

GREENVILLE, Pa.-- The Thiel College Department of Music and Theatre presents its 67th Annual Thiel Christmas Festival Concert at 4 p.m. Dec. 8 in the William A. Passavant Memorial Center.

The event is free and open to the public. All attendees are invited to a post-event reception in the William A. Robinson Theater next door to the Passavant Center.

With the theme of “The Weary World Rejoices,” the festival features a wide range of repertoire from familiar Christmas carols to newer works by Paul Caldwell and Sean Ivory, Dan Forrest and Mack Wilberg.

The event will also introduce the extended Thiel family to the new Director of Thiel Choirs Thomas Wininger, D.M.A., and Campus Pastor Brian Riddle ’07.

“It is my distinct pleasure to join the storied tradition of Christmas Festival at Thiel College. This year’s program will feature a new lessons and carols format featuring music from across the globe as we examine how numerous cultures celebrate Christmas,” Wininger said.

“For 67 years, the Thiel College Department of Music and Theatre has had the distinct privilege of ushering in the spirit of the season with music and worship for Greenville and our extended community of family and friends,” Chair of the Music and Theatre Department Pete Rydberg, Ph.D., said. “This season’s theme reflects our religious traditions as a Lutheran institution. We are thrilled to mark this first year having the choir under the direction of Dr. Thomas Wininger along with new campus Pastor Brian Riddle, crafted a memorable program as we move into the Christmas holiday.”