News Release
November 2002
(Bethlehem,
Pennsylvania) - Five local children have been selected to sing the solo
portions of the traditional Moravian hymn "Morning Star" at
the eighth Moravian College and Moravian Theological Seminary Christmas
Vespers services this December. The Moravian College Choir, conducted
by Paula Zerkle, will be featured in the services that will be held
December 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, and 15 at Central Moravian Church, Main and
Church streets, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. A preview concert will be held
on Sunday, November 24 in Foy Concert Hall on the Priscilla Payne Hurd
Campus. The preview concert showcases all of the same music and song
of the December Services.
Members of the Moravian College music
department chose the following
soloists to sing at the annual vespers program:
Genevieve Gillespie will be the featured
Morning Star soloist at the November
24th preview concert as well as the December 7th service. She is the
daughter of Thomas and Allison Gillespie of Coopersburg, Pennsylvania.
Genevieve is 12 years old and a 6th grade student at Southern Lehigh
Middle School. Allison is an artist lecturer in the music department
at Moravian College.
Julia Nagle will be the featured Morning
Star soloist at the December 6th service. She is the daughter of John
and Kerrianne Nagle of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Julia is 10 years old
and a 5th grade student at Hanover Elementary School. Kerrianne’s
cousin, Sally Reimer, is a choir member.
Sarah Brodt will be the featured Morning
Star soloist at the December 8th service. She is the daughter of Ralph
and Christina Brodt III of Coplay, Pennsylvania. Sarah is 10 years old
and is in the 5th grade at Whitehall-Coplay Middle School. Ralph is
a graduate of Moravian College class of 1975. He is an artist lecturer
in the Moravian College music department.
Harris Hoke will be the featured Morning Star soloist
at the December 13th service. He is the son of Harris and Kathleen Hoke
of Flanders, New Jersey. Harris is 9 years old and is a 4th grade student
at St. Joseph’s Elementary School. Both Harris, class of 1985,
and Kathleen, class of 1987, graduated from Moravian College.
Jason Curtis will be the featured Morning Start soloist at the December
14th and 15th services. He is the son of John and Judy Curtis of Dallas,
Pennsylvania. Jason is 7 years old and is a 2nd grade student at Wyoming
Seminary Lower School. Judy is a graduate of the class of 1983 from
Moravian College.
Moravian Theological Seminary graduate Francis Florentine
Hagen composed "Morning Star" in 1836.The Morning Star hymn
is traditionally sung by a child soloist each year. Auditions were held
for the positions in October.
The soloist, choir, and congregation join in singing
the hymn as the church lights are dimmed and the beeswax candles are
distributed by members of the college and seminary community. Moravian
College's tradition of celebrating the Christmas season with special
vespers services dates back to 1742.
Liturgists for the six services will be Frank L.
Crouch, Dean and Vice President of the Moravian Theological Seminary
(December 6), Dr. Ervin J. Rokke, President of Moravian College and
Theological Seminary (December 7), Beverly J. Kochard, Vice President
for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at Moravian College (December
8), Dennis A. Domchek, Vice President for Administration at Moravian
College (December 13), Curtis A. Keim, Vice President for Academic Affairs
and Dean of the Faculty at Moravian College (December 14), and Father
Wayne E. Killian, Catholic Chaplain of Moravian College (December 15).
During the services, seminary students will read
text from the New Testament, college students will read text from the
Old Testament, and members of the faculty and administration will offer
prayers.
The Christmas Vespers services are held for the
immediate college community and invited guests. Moravian College is
a private, coeducational, selective liberal arts college located in
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Tracing its founding to 1742, it is recognized
as
America's sixth-oldest college. Visit the web site
at www.moravian.edu.
