Smith College Sets Vespers Concert

Music and readings for the holiday season will be featured at Smith College's annual Christmas Vespers Sunday, December 5, at 4 and 7:30 p.m., with preludes starting 20 minutes before each performance. The performances are open to the public at no charge, although donations are welcome and will benefit the Northampton Interfaith Cot Shelter. Early arrival is recommended.

Several Smith musical groups--the glee club, choir, chorale, handbell choir and orchestra--and the Worcester Polytechnic Institute Men's Glee Club, will perform a number of pieces, including "Fantasia on Christmas Carols" by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

The program will also include traditional hymns and carols arranged and orchestrated by Clifton J. Noble, Jr., as well as pieces by Benjamin Britten from "A Ceremony of Carols," Francis Poulenc and Adolphe Adam.

Smith music faculty share conducting duties with Jonathan Hirsh and Thomas Kim directing the choral and instrumental groups and Grant Moss leading the handbell choir.

College Chaplains Elizabeth Carr and Leon Burrows will lead the services, which will include readings by Smith President Ruth Simmons and Smith College seniors.

John M. Greene Hall is wheelchair accessible.

November 12, 1999