The songs and carols heralded the fact that Christmas is in the air, as the University Of The West Indies (UWI) presented the Festival Of Nine Lessons And Carols last Sunday evening in Lecture Theatre 1, Roy Marshall Teaching Complex, featuring the Cavite Chorale, supported by the Clarion Singers and G Syndicate.
?Despite the evening showers, a large crowd was in attendance and joined in the singing of the seasonal songs, such as OnceIn Royal David’s City, As With Gladness Men Of Old and O Come All Ye Faithful.
The smooth-running programme also featured the Christmas story read in nine different lessons by various people selected from the audience.
The Cavite Chorale, which was formed some 40 years ago at the UWI Cave Hill Campus, was the main act of the production, with its director Ryan Boyce. They presented carols which included O Come Emmanuel, O Little Town Of Bethlehem and Ding Dong Merrily On High, which were all well presented by this chorale which throughout the years has always produced excellent music.
Soloist Andrea Burnett did a piece by Petro Yon called Gesu Bambino which was preceded by a popular solo number Ave Maria, done by soprano soloist Shonelle Branker, in which both soloists did justice to these numbers that was well applauded by the crowd gathered.
Supporting group the Clarion Singers showed their experience and talent as they did a number of pieces, namely Christmas Lullaby, Feliz Navidad, and We Three Kings, in which they did well to excite those gathered. The event coincided with the celebration of UWI’s 50th anniversary Path To Prosperity programme.
Taking a break from the piano and taking up the flute was John Burnett, who played a Christmas favourite, O Holy Night.
Overall, it was an evening when the spirit of Christmas was truly in the air. (RL)