La Sierra University’s Department of Music will enter the holiday season with a 72nd performance of its long-running and cherished holiday tradition, the Candlelight Concert.
The musical extravaganza will take place in dual performances Friday, Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 7 at 4:30 p.m. at the La Sierra University Church. Under directors of choral and orchestral studies, respectively Drs. Ariel Quintana and Dean Anderson as well as other noted faculty members, La Sierra University’s orchestra, chorale, chamber singers, vocal group United and other vocal and instrumental artists will perform major works along with familiar carols and spirituals.
Repertoire will include John Rutter’s “Gloria” and “A Choral Fanfare,” Victor Herbert’s “Festival March,” Mark Hayes’ “Go Tell it on the Mountain,” Franz Gruber’s “Silent Night,” and many others.
The Candlelight Concerts date back to Dec. 13, 1947 when the first performance was held in the La Sierra College campus church which opened in May that year. According to the student newspaper at the time, the College Criterion, telegrams with best wishes from eminent musicians arrived in recognition of the event including from renowned choral composer Randall Thompson and noted arranger Roy Ringwald.
La Sierra University, a Seventh-day Adventist institution nationally acclaimed for its diverse campus and its service to others, offers a transformational experience that lasts a lifetime.
U.S. News & World Report for six years named La Sierra University the most racially diverse university in the western United States. In addition, in September 2016 and 2017, the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education top colleges ranking named La Sierra University the most diverse campus in the nation. Additionally, U.S. News and World Report’s 2017 Best Colleges guide listed La Sierra ninth in the 15-state western region for best value. This follows the July 2015, Money magazine list which ranked La Sierra University eighth in the nation for providing value-added education that helps students surpass expectations. Each year, from 2008 to 2014 the Corporation for National and Community Service included La Sierra in the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll awards. These awards include La Sierra’s receipt of the prestigious 2013 Presidential Award, the highest honor a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning, and civic engagement. The corporation’s awards recognize La Sierra’s students for providing thousands of hours of service including international economic development projects by La Sierra’s world cup-winning Enactus team, and community projects through La Sierra’s campus-wide, Service-Learning program.
Admission to the 72nd Annual Candlelight Concert is free with limited reserved seating available at $10 per seat, or $80 per row which seats 8 - 10. The La Sierra University Church is located at 4937 Sierra Vista Ave. For information email music@lasierra.edu or call 951-785-2036.