La Sierra University to ring in season with 71st Candlelight Concert

  Arts+Culture  

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – In keeping with its time-honored tradition, La Sierra University will celebrate the start of the holiday season with the 71st annual performance of its beloved Candlelight Concert. 

<p>A scene from last year’s 70th Candlelight Concert performed at the La Sierra University Church. (Photo: Natan Vigna)</p>

A scene from last year’s 70th Candlelight Concert performed at the La Sierra University Church. (Photo: Natan Vigna)

Two performances will be held at the La Sierra University Church on Friday, Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 8 at 4 p.m. General admission is free with reserved tickets available for purchase for the first five rows.

The concert will showcase the university’s orchestra, wind ensemble, chamber singers, United vocal group, instrumentalists and soloists. Performers will include nationally-acclaimed operatic baritone Craig Johnson, award-winning tenor Anthony Leon, and music faculty Kimo Smith and Elvin Rodriguez performing a duo piano piece.

In additional to classic Christmas works, congregational sing-alongs of carols and George Frideric Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus,” the evening’s lineup will include such distinctive holiday repertoire as “Fum, Fum, Fum!” arranged by Mack Wilberg, Duane Funderburk’s “Christmas Fantasia” with Smith, Rodriguez and the La Sierra University Orchestra, and “Los Tres Reyes” by Ariel Ramirez featuring tenor Leon with piano, drums, and Charango, which is a small Andean guitar.

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