Millikin presents 60th annual Vespers celebration
Millikin University will present its 60th annual Vespers concert on Saturday, Dec. 1 and Sunday, Dec. 2 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Performances will be held at Kirkland Fine Arts Center on Millikin University's campus.
For more than 50 years Vespers, which means "evening prayer," has signaled the beginning of the holiday season with a sumptuous evening of carols, choirs and candlelight. More than 300 musicians join together for this joyous musical feast presented annually on Millikin's campus.
Songs from past centuries combine with familiar carols and arrangements to create an evening of seasonal warmth for the whole family. Vespers is one of Millikin's most popular events, and has become a beloved tradition on campus and within the Decatur community.
In a recent interview with the Herald & Review, Dr. Brad Holmes, director of choral activities at Millikin and artistic director for Vespers said, "The spirit that was started 60 years ago continues to grow. Each year, Vespers provides a wonderful opening for the holiday season."
Dr. Holmes has conducted the Vespers concert for over 25 years. Each year he adds new music to the traditional Christmas story told by the choir. This year he will be conducting alongside Professor Beth Holmes and Dr. Guy Forbes as all four of the college's curricular choirs will be performing with Millikin instrumentalists.
"Each year the concert has a theme," said Dr. Holmes. "In the past, the themes have been 'Stars' or 'Fallen Snow.' This year's concert, 'Sing Alleluia,' will have a global feel."
This year's concert will feature international forms of praise, from Norwegian to African sounds as well as English and early American. "The word Alleluia is global. The whole concert represents the idea of around the world," said Dr. Holmes.
Mairyn Dodson, a senior vocal music education major from Lake Saint Louis, Mo., is among the performers at Vespers.
"It takes you on a roller coaster of emotions," said Dodson. "Vespers is not the typical choir concert that we're used to performing. There is more production and work that goes on behind the scenes."
During his time as artistic director of Vespers, Dr. Holmes has added details to the concert to make it more inviting, taking the music to the audience.
"It has choirs surrounding you. You are sitting among the choir," he said. "There's no dancing, but there is motion and lights and participation. It is about the community, not the concert."