The fragrance of worship was brought upon Olivet University last night, as the Jubilee College of Music performed their very first Christmas concert – a choral program entitled "O Come Let us Sing."
Audience members clapped and even sang along at the invitation of the ensemble's director, Dr. Merril Smoak, as students of Smoak's Class Voice program sang through five pieces including Michael W. Smith's "Gloria" Jane Foster Knox's "Prayer of Thanksgiving," and Steve Klingbeil's "How Real is Your Faith," which was also performed as an encore at the end of the evening. Readings of scriptures and stories behind the songs were also interspersed through the event, with Dr. Smoak giving special attention to recognizing the time as being the "Christmas Season" rather than the "Holiday Season."
"The concert was very graceful," said administrator. "It was really a chance for me to meditate on the meaning of Christmas and the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ!"
"It was really a great way to end the semester," said teaching assistant Emily Ko. "The intimate setting captured perfectly the current image of our college, and with such a successful evening this time around, it gave me great hope for the future of JCM and it's respective mission fields."
Look for many more performances from JCM's vocal ensemble in the Spring.