Categorized | Community Events

Historic Church Offers Special Service of Lessons and Carols

Press Release 12/3/14

Christmas

Christmas at St. Peter’s

PERTH AMBOY – The service of Lessons and Carols is a long-standing tradition of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Perth Amboy. Musical offerings of the season will be performed on December 14, 2014 at 10:30 AM by a 40-voice choir under the direction of R. Douglas Sheldon, Music Director since 1976.  This is Perth Amboy’s 39th Lessons and Carols, all conducted by Doug Sheldon. The service is a way for St. Peter’s to share with the community and is open to all.

The choral works to be performed range from that of the 16th century to the present day, including the Spanish carols “A la Nanita Nana” and “Riu, Riu, Chiu” and a colonial carol by William Billings “A Virgin Unspotted.” There is an elegant arrangement combining the 16th century German Carol “Lo, How a Rose ere Blooming” with Amanda Mc Broom’s “The Rose” and a stunning setting of “O Holy Night” by the Broadway arranger/director, Don Pippin. The program of ten carols presents John Rutter’s “Star Carol”, the popular “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” “African Noel,” “The Gift Carol,” plus Norman Luboff’s arrangement of “Do You Hear what I Hear.  The music alternates seasonal readings of the Christmas Story with a selection of famous Advent hymns.

Mr. Sheldon is also the founder and principal conductor of the Baldwin Festival Chorus of New York.  He is a Senior Vice President at Columbia Artists Management and a leading manager of classical artists internationally.  Assisting him in conducting will be Jeff Smith, and Patrick Murphy.  Mr. Smith and Mr. Murphy are graduates of Rutgers University and alumni of the Rutgers Glee Club and Associate Conductors in the Baldwin Festival Chorus of New York.  They are now music teachers in Edison and Old Bridge respectively, where they also work with the high school bands.

Accompanying the carols, anthems, and hymns will be St. Peter’s organist, Jon Tyillian, who is a graduate of Duquesne University.  Currently, Jon serves as Organist and Accompanist both at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Perth Amboy, New Jersey and for The Forest Hills Choir of Forest Hills, NY. He regularly appears as an accompanist with The Astoria Choir and several area children’s choruses, and has recently performed with St. George’s Choral Society in New York City. He has also accompanied master classes for several conductors of note, including Robert Page, Anton Armstrong, and Andre Thomas.

Soloists for various pieces will be Alexandra Sheldon, Jeff Smith, Elizabeth Moran, Elena Gisler, Jennifer Allen, Emily Kwan, Nicholas Anan, Patrick Murphy and Cedric Richardson.

Admission to the service is free and open to all.  Donations will be accepted.  A reception will follow.

Historic St. Peter’s Episcopal Church is located at 183 Rector Street, Perth Amboy, New Jersey.

For further information, please call the Parish Office (732) 826-1594.

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