MARYVILLE – The Orchestra at Maryville College and the Maryville College Community Chorus will present a “Holiday Festival” concert at 7:30 p.m., Mon., Dec. 7 at the Maryville First Baptist Church, which is located at 202 West Lamar Alexander Parkway.

The church sanctuary will be filled with the joyous sound of voices and instruments performing the music of the season. The concert will highlight works of modern composers known for their arrangements of sacred music: John Leavitt, Dan Goeller and John Rutter.

      Choral Director Alan Eleazer will lead the ensembles in a setting of “Missa Festiva” by John Leavitt. Portions of this stunning setting of the Mass are already well-known. Using the previously composed Kyrie, Festival Sanctus and Agnus Dei as pivotal points, Leavitt’s powerful settings of the Gloria and Credo round out the Mass setting with strength and dignity. The chorus will also perform “Mary’s Lullaby” and “Candlelight Carol” by John Rutter.

      Conductor Bill Robinson will direct the Orchestra in performing new arrangements of traditional tunes in “Christmas Fantasy,” “Petite Carol Suite,” “A Christmas Festival of Carols” and “Appalachian Carol” arranged by Dan Goeller.

      Writing about his aims in composition, Goeller says, “My goal is to create beautiful and honest music…music should contain three important elements: truth, goodness and beauty. I hope that my music will encourage and convict others because it is artistic and innovative while remaining accessible. This is a delicate balance of competing elements, but when achieved, ensures that one’s music will be an effective way to profoundly communicate and connect with both listeners and performers.”

      The “L’Arlesienne Suite No.1” by Georges Bizet and “In the Bleak Midwinter” by Gustav Holst are also on the program. For the finale, the audience will want to sing along with the ever popular “A Christmas Festival” by Leroy Anderson.

  In the spirit of the season, free admission is given at the door for those who bring a new, unwrapped toy donation for the “Toys for Blount County” collection sponsored by the Junior Service League. Regular ticket prices are $10 for adults; $7.50 for seniors 60 and over; free to students 18 and under. Admission is also free to Maryville College faculty, staff, retirees and students with ID. Students over 18 from other schools are admitted for $5.00.

      For more information, contact Orchestra General Manager Genevieve Michael at 865.273.8871 or genevieve.michael@maryvillecollege.edu.