Festival of Lights Features Candlelight Service at Provine Chapel

Festival of Lights, presented by the MC Music Department, will be performed December 4-6.

Festival of Lights Features Candlelight Service at Provine Chapel

For nearly three decades, Mississippi College’s Festival of Lights has attracted big crowds to see an inspirational candlelight service of scriptural lessons, carols and prayers.

The 29^th annual Festival of Lights at Provine Chapel will adhere to that tradition with the university’s award-winning MC Singers returning for another performance this Christmas season.

The MC Music Department-sponsored programs from December 4-6 should delight audiences on the Clinton campus.

Every year, the Festival of Lights remains one of the signature events in metro Jackson to celebrate the Christmas holidays.

A vocal performance major, freshman Sarah Brantley, 18, of Clinton is thrilled to be a member of the MC Singers and looks forward to being part of the early December program. The 2014 Clinton High graduate saw two Festival of Lights concerts in recent years as a member of the audience.

“It’s almost indescribable how beautiful the entire festival has been in years past, and I feel honored to be part of this amazing tradition this Christmas,” Brantley said.

It’s a wonderful event, she said, “that many people look forward to the most when the Christmas season comes around.”

The Mississippi College student choir consisting of about 55 members will be conducted by Milburn Price, a visiting music professor this year. Dr. Price is the former dean of the School of the Performing Arts in Birmingham, Alabama. The choir will be joined by nearly 30 professors from a variety of disciplines at the Festival of Lights.

Part of the mixed ensemble and the women’s sextet as a singer at Clinton High, Brantley is excited to be one of the MC Singers. Over the years, the group has toured around parts of the USA, including performances at New York City’s famed Carnegie Hall. The MC student choir has also performed in Europe and South Africa the past few years.

“I think what I like most about the MC Singers is that I’m in a choir filled with gifted people that want to be there and want to make beautiful music with the purpose of glorifying the Lord,” Sarah Brantley said.

Several other students from Clinton are members of the MC Singers. They include Leah Oswalt, Taylor Snazelle and Yasmin Bradshaw. Taylor’s grandfather is longtime MC biology professor Ted Snazelle. Leah is the daughter of MC music professor Lewis Oswalt.

The Festival of Lights made its debut on the Clinton campus in 1986.

Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings. Festival patrons are advised to order their tickets as early as possible. Prices are $15 for adults, $10 for Mississippi College faculty and staff, and $5 for students from any school with an identification card.

Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.mc.edu/marketplace or by calling Dottie Serio at the MC Department of Music at 601-925-3440. Tickets should also be available at the door.