{"id":1769,"date":"2024-12-20T20:26:14","date_gmt":"2024-12-21T04:26:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/?p=1769"},"modified":"2024-12-20T20:31:14","modified_gmt":"2024-12-21T04:31:14","slug":"tis-the-season-for-the-feast-of-lights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/index.php\/2024\/12\/20\/tis-the-season-for-the-feast-of-lights\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Tis The Season: University of Redlands&#8217; 77th Feast of Lights"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Christmas hymns and carols flowed from Memorial Chapel Dec. 6-8 as the University of Redlands\u2019 School of Performing Arts held its 77th annual Feast of Lights celebration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Feast of Lights, which was started in 1947 by Professor J. William Jones, celebrates the season of Advent and shares the story of Jesus Christ\u2019s birth through tableaux and music. One of the university\u2019s major undertakings, the Feast of Lights is known to attract large crowds from both the local and more distant communities. Nearly 2,500 people attended this year\u2019s event, many of whom were familiar faces.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"446\" src=\"https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/cpew0gbc-1024x446.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1770\" style=\"width:695px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/cpew0gbc-1024x446.png 1024w, https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/cpew0gbc-300x131.png 300w, https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/cpew0gbc-768x335.png 768w, https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/cpew0gbc-1536x669.png 1536w, https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/cpew0gbc.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A line forms at the entrance to Memorial Chapel for the Dec. 7 celebration. Nearly 2,500 people attended this three-series event, with over 1,000 attending the Sunday finale.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This was the 17th Feast of Lights led by Director of Choral Activities Nicholle Andrews, who received the reins from Jeffery Rickard in 2007. It included a total of 158 student performers from the Chapel Singers, University Choir, Choral Union, University Orchestra, Brass Ensemble and Flute Choir. These ensembles were joined by an additional 21 members from the University of Redlands\u2019 Youth Choir for the Sunday finale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 2-hour celebrations were held at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 6 and 7 and 4 p.m. on Dec. 8. They each opened with several musical scores and then a narration of the Christmas story by Reverend John Walsh, the emeritus chaplain. Tableaux figures outfitted as Gabriel the Angel, Mary, Joseph, the Shepherd and the Three Wise Men brought his words to life as they silently processed down the aisles and stood on the platform above the choir.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter\" data-autoplay=\"true\" data-delay=\"5\" data-effect=\"slide\"><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container\"><ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\"><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1238\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1772\" data-id=\"1772\" src=\"https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/fnsyuvvs.png\" srcset=\"https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/fnsyuvvs.png 1600w, https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/fnsyuvvs-300x232.png 300w, https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/fnsyuvvs-1024x792.png 1024w, https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/fnsyuvvs-768x594.png 768w, https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/fnsyuvvs-1536x1188.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Paige Neuenswander \u201827, as Gabriel the Angel, stands stoically above the student performers during the Dec. 7 celebration. This occurred during the \u201cAnnunciation\u201d portion of the program, where Gabriel the Angel told Mary about her duty of giving birth to Jesus Christ.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1773\" data-id=\"1773\" src=\"https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/s9euklhl.png\" srcset=\"https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/s9euklhl.png 1600w, https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/s9euklhl-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/s9euklhl-1024x768.png 1024w, https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/s9euklhl-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/s9euklhl-1536x1152.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Gabriel the Angel is joined by Joseph, Mary and the Shepherd during the Dec. 7 Feast of Lights. This referenced the \u201cBirth in Bethlehem\u201d portion of the program.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause\" role=\"button\"><\/a><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>About halfway through the service, the Chapel was plunged into darkness for the Ceremony of Candle Lighting. From the flame of a singular candle near center stage, choir students cloaked in red illuminated candles surrounding the Chapel\u2019s perimeter in a symbolic message of spreading Christ\u2019s light throughout the world.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter\" data-autoplay=\"true\" data-delay=\"5\" data-effect=\"slide\"><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container\"><ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\"><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"897\" height=\"1600\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1774\" data-id=\"1774\" src=\"https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/1iqm6u6o.png\" srcset=\"https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/1iqm6u6o.png 897w, https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/1iqm6u6o-168x300.png 168w, https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/1iqm6u6o-574x1024.png 574w, https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/1iqm6u6o-768x1370.png 768w, https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/1iqm6u6o-861x1536.png 861w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 897px) 100vw, 897px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">A student performer lights candles at the Dec. 7 celebration. This Ceremony of Candle Lighting involved the illumination of more than 500 candles.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1775\" data-id=\"1775\" src=\"https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/newyemxs.png\" srcset=\"https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/newyemxs.png 1600w, https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/newyemxs-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/newyemxs-1024x768.png 1024w, https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/newyemxs-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/newyemxs-1536x1152.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">The Chapel shines brightly during the Ceremony of Candle Lighting at the Dec. 7 Feast of Lights. Audience members also participated in this portion of the program by turning on the tea lights they were given at the entrance.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause\" role=\"button\"><\/a><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>At the conclusion of each event, the audience exited the Chapel to mingle with student performers and marvel at the live nativity scene made up of tableaux members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/xubck1ra-1024x768.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1778\" style=\"width:562px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/xubck1ra-1024x768.png 1024w, https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/xubck1ra-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/xubck1ra-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/xubck1ra-1536x1152.png 1536w, https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/xubck1ra.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The tableaux members recreate the nativity scene after the Dec. 7 celebration. Their roles, from left to right, were: Stone Ramirez \u201826 as the Shepherd, Bailey Cabrera \u201824 as Mary, Nicholas Ahment \u201824 as Joseph , Paige Neuenswander \u201827 as Gabriel the Angel, Luca Davidorf \u201826 as Casper, Gabriel Melendrez \u201828 as Melchoir and Ethan Lotrario \u201827 as Balthasar.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The whole program was interspersed with 19 musical pieces and three congressional carols, where the audience joined the choir in singing \u201cHark! The Herald Angels Sing,\u201d \u201cO Come, All Ye Faithful\u201d and \u201cSilent Night.\u201d Andrews said that each year\u2019s celebration features new music, as they strive to showcase the students\u2019 work. This year\u2019s Feast of Lights featured the premiere of \u201cA Boy And His Drum,\u201d a piece composed by Mena Williams \u201825.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An accomplished composer, Williams has roughly 10 years of experience and her pieces have been played by musicians both within and outside of the University of Redlands. She was also one of the 12 individuals selected to participate in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nats.org\/Mentoring_Program_for_Composers.html#:~:text=Composers%20of%20vocal%20music%2C%20especially,contact%2C%20approximately%20once%20a%20month.\">2024 National Association of Teachers Mentoring Program for Composers<\/a>. With guidance from mentor Tom Cipullo, she composed a 6-minute piece for the Cincinnati Song Initiative\u2019s \u201cLet it be New\u201d digital concert series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt was very cool to see the piece performed,\u201d Williams said. \u201cThe performers were amazing; I actually just recently used the recording of them performing the piece for applying to graduate school.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After approaching Andrews about composing a piece for the 2025 Feast of Lights, Williams began working on \u201cA Boy and His Drum\u201d in April. Williams was then notified by Andrews within the first few weeks of school that plans had changed and her piece would be featured in this year\u2019s program. She immediately got to work with edits, making a piano reduction score for the choir to read and doing some additional fine-tuning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis is the first time I\u2019ve had a large ensemble work performed,\u201d she said, \u201cwhich is very exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The excitement was widespread among the performing students, who had been gearing up for the Feast of Lights for more than two months. Choir member Chloe Loken \u201827 said her favorite part of this holiday celebration is, in fact, such preparation and the relationships built amongst the student performers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI love the tradition,\u201d Loken said. \u201cIt&#8217;s adapted with the times, and yet, at the same time, it still holds this sanctity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In reflecting on this year\u2019s celebration, Andrews was very proud of how it went.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe all agree that this year\u2019s event was beautiful,\u201d Andrews said. \u201cMany attendees shared with the students that this was the best Feast they had ever attended.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"598\" src=\"https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/fddvikpl-1024x598.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1779\" style=\"width:626px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/fddvikpl-1024x598.png 1024w, https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/fddvikpl-300x175.png 300w, https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/fddvikpl-768x448.png 768w, https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/fddvikpl-1536x897.png 1536w, https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/fddvikpl.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Audience members exit the Chapel following the Dec. 7 Feast of Lights. The live nativity scene, with a background of luminaries lining the Quad, provided an ideal photograph opportunity for attendees.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This was the third Feast of Lights for Mary Lou, a Redlands resident, who praised the program\u2019s spirituality and musical quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI just love the organ playing along with the whole orchestra,\u201d she said. \u201cWhen they do the crescendos and the drama of the voices, it&#8217;s just beautiful. It awakens a lot of spirit in you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yucaipa resident Clem Hudson, whose sister-in-law was a Redlands alumni and had performed in the Feast of Lights, has been to at least eight celebrations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThey\u2019ve always done a fabulous job,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have always enjoyed our time and we plan to come again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This sense of community is an integral part of the Feast of Lights, Andrews explained.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhen we\u2019re all together on stage, sharing in the act of creating something much bigger than ourselves, there\u2019s a deep sense of community and respect,\u201d Andrews said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although coordinating all the behind-the-scenes functions poses a daunting challenge, Andrews said the Feast of Lights brings her great joy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cLooking into the eyes of the students while they\u2019re playing and singing is what makes me so grateful to be a professor and conductor,\u201d she said. \u201cAdditionally, seeing the first-year students singing or playing alongside the seniors is a beautiful representation of passing the light from one generation to the next.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With another successful Feast of Lights in the books, Andrews said she is looking forward to next year\u2019s celebration and has already begun preparations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">Photos taken by McKenzie Rose<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Christmas hymns and carols flowed from Memorial Chapel Dec. 6-8 as the University of Redlands\u2019 School of Performing<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":1771,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_FSMCFIC_featured_image_caption":"Memorial Chapel fills up for the Dec. 7 celebration. A total of 788 people attended this second celebration in the weekend series.","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_nocaption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_hide":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[270],"class_list":["post-1769","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture","tag-feast-of-lights"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/yph8uoe6.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1769","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/44"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1769"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1769\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1785,"href":"https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1769\/revisions\/1785"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1771"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1769"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1769"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theredlandsbulldog.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1769"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}