If You Go
What: Roueche Chorale's Candlelight Service of Lessons and CarolsWhen: 7 p.m. tonight and Friday, Dec. 13-14Where: Christ United Methodist Church, 8645 East Brainerd RoadAdmission: Free, donations will be accepted.For more information: www.therouechechorale.org
Audiences attending the Roueché Chorale's annual Candlelight Service of Lessons & Carols have grown steadily since the Christmas program began 12 years ago. Chorale director Jeff Roueché has repeatedly changed venues to adapt to these ever-growing numbers.
So for its 13th annual presentation, the chorale is offering two evenings of performances, said the director, to accommodate the expected 1,000-plus concertgoers.
"We are drawing up to 1,300 people. We needed two nights and a larger venue to accommodate seating and parking," said Roueché. "We do not want anyone leaving because of the lack of either of these things."
Tonight and Friday, Dec. 13-14, the Candlelight Service of Lessons & Carols will be presented at Christ United Methodist Church in East Brainerd. The chorale will be accompanied by a 36-piece orchestra composed of professional musicians from Chattanooga, Knoxville and Atlanta.
A McCallie School guitar quartet will play a musical prelude for the audience before Hampton Baxter plays a shofar to signal the concert's start.
The service combines Scripture and song to tell the birth of Jesus. The biblical verses, or lessons, will be read by Jim Stover, Marcia Kling, Nordia Epps, Emory Fry, Al Henry, Nora Monteith, Ed Reeves, Church Goodhard and Paul Martin, said Roueché.
Among the chorale's selections will be "Ave Maria," "Arise and Shine" and "This Is Love," said the director.
Featured soloists will be Maria Rist and Wesley Herndon on "Candlelight Carol," Rebecca Sanford on "Alleluia" and Debby Autry and Randy Walker on "The Promise."
The audience also will participate through congregational singing, said Roueché.
Contact staff writer Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.