2025 christmas festival concert
Xiaosha Lin, artistic director | Scott D. Miller, conductor
THE WHITWORTH UNIVERSITY
2025 christmas festival concert
SATURDAY, DEC. 6, AT 7:30 P.M. | SUNDAY, DEC. 7, AT 3 P.M. THE CATHEDRAL OF ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST SPOKANE, WASH.
Program Note
WELCOME FROM DIRECTOR OF CHORAL ACTIVITIES XIAOSHA LIN
Titled Jubilate Deo (Rejoice in God), Whitworth University’s 2025 Christmas Festival Concerts return to The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, partnered with Spokane’s phenomenal organist John Bodinger and the Whitworth Brass Quintet, to bring you an uplifting musical experience for this Christmas season.
In this season of joy, we bring you the music to Praise God in his sanctuary. We raise our voices and instruments to praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals (Psalm 150).
The finale of the concert will present an arrangement based on a renowned organ repertoire, Charles-Marie Widor’s Toccata from Symphony No. 5, to highlight the marvelous organ at the cathedral with the accompaniment of choirs, the brass quintet and percussion, sending you off into this joyful season.
May peace find you in the season of yearning; May gratitude guide you to discover the beauty that surrounds you; May joy fill you and transform you into the little light of this big world.
Thank you for joining us in praising the Lord. Let us go rejoicing!
As a courtesy to other listeners and to the performers, we ask that you refrain from texting and from using cameras or recording devices of any kind during the program. Please turn off all electronic beeping devices (cellphones and watches). Finally, we request that you withhold applause until the conclusion of the final selection. Thank you.
O Sing a Song of Bethlehem
Prelude
arr. Chris D. Burton (b. 1985)
On Christmas Night All Christians Sing arr. Lloyd Larson (b. 1954)
Handbell Choir
Zeke O’Donnell, student conductor
aProgram
Please withhold applause until the end of the concert.
Virga Jesse Anton Bruckner (1824-96)
Virga Jesse floruit: Virgo Deum et hominem genuit: pacem Deus reddidit, in se reconcilians ima summis. Alleluja.
Personent Hodie
Personent hodie voces puerulae
Whitworth Choir
The branch from Jesse blooms: a Virgin brings forth God and man: God restores peace, reconciling in himself the lowest with the highest. Praise the Lord.
German Tune (1630) Lara Hoggard (1915-2007)
All Choirs
Whitworth Brass Quintet
John Bodinger, organ
Max Bartron, Luke Wagner, percussion
Laudantes iucunde qui nobis est natus, Summo Deo datus, Et de virgineo ventre procreatus.
In mundo nascitur, pannis involvitur Praesepi ponitur stabulo brutorum, Rector supernorum, Perdidit spolia princeps infernorum.
Magi tres venerunt munera offerunt, Parvulum inquirunt, stellulam sequendo,
Let the voices of youth resound today, Joyfully praising the one who is born for us, Given by the highest God, And brought forth from a virgin’s womb.
He is born into the world, wrapped in swaddling clothes, Laid in a manger in a stable of beasts; The ruler of heaven, The prince of hell has lost his spoils.
Three Magi came, offering gifts; They seek the little child, following the little star,
Ipsum adorando, Aurum, thus et myrrham ei offerendo.
Omnes clericuli, pariter pueri cantent ut angeli, advenisti mundo, Gloria in excelsis Deo!
This Endris Night
Worshipping Him, Offering Him gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
All young clerics, And youth together, sing like angels: You have come into the world, Glory to God in the highest!
Sarah Quartel (b. 1982)
Forest Treble Choir
This endris night I saw a sight, a star as bright as day, And ever among, a maiden sung, “Lully, by by, lullay.”
This lovely lady sat and sang, and to her child did say: “My son, my brother, father dear, why liest thou thus in hay? My sweetest bird, ’tis thus required, though thou be king veray, But nevertheless I will not cease to sing, “By by, lullay, lullay.”
The child then spake whilst she did sing, and to his mother did say, “Yea, I am known as Heaven-King in crib though I be laid. For angels bright down on me light; thou knowest ’tis no nay. And for that sight thou may delight to sing, ‘By by, lullay, lullay.’”
“Now sweet son, since it is so, that all is at thy will, I pray thee grant to me a boon, if it be right and skill, That child or man, who will or can, be merry on my day, To bliss them bring and I shall sing, “Lullay, by by, lullay.”
A Ceremony of Carols
II. Wolcum Yole!
Wolcum be thou hevenè king, Wolcum Yole!
Wolcum, born in one morning, Wolcum for whom we shall sing!
Wolcum be ye, Stevene and Jon, Wolcum, Innocentes everyone, Wolcum, Thomas marter one, Wolcum be ye good Newe Yere, Wolcum, Twelfthe-Day both in fere, Wolcum, seintes lefe and dere, Wolcum Yole!
Candelmesse, Quene of bliss, Wolcum bothe to more and lesse. Wolcum be ye that are here, Wolcum alle and make good cheer. Wolcum Yole! Wolcum!
Forest Treble Choir Joy Zickau, harp
Benjamin Britten (1913-76)
Text: 14th Century Poem
VI. This Little Babe Text: Robert Southwell (c. 1561-95)
This little Babe so few days old, It come to rifle Satan’s fold; All hell doth at his presence quake, Though he himself for cold do shake; For in this weak unarmèd wise The gates of hell he will surprise.
With tears he fights and wins the field, His naked breast stands for a shield; His battering shot are babish cries, His arrows look of weeping eyes, His martial ensigns Cold and Need, And feeble Flesh his warrior’s steed.
His camp is pitchèd in a stall, His bulwark but a broken wall; The crib his trench, haystalks his stakes; Of shepherds he his muster makes; And thus, as sure his foe to wound, The angels’ trumps alarum sound.
My soul, with Christ join thou in fight Stick to the tents that he hath pight. Within his crib is surest ward; This little Babe will be thy guard. If thou will foil thy foes with joy, Then flit not from this heavenly Boy.
Wonder Tidings
Whitworth Choir Samarra Salcido, oboe Joy Zickau, harp
15th Century Carol Stephen Paulus (1949-2014)
What tidings bringest thou, messenger, Of Christes birth this jolly day?
A babe is born of high nature. The prince of peace that ever shall be; Of heav’n and earth he hath the cure: His lordship is eternity: Such wonder tidings ye may hear, That man is made now Goddes peer, Whom sin had made but fiendes prey.
What tidings bringest thou, messenger (a babe is born), Of Christes birth this jolly day? (The Prince of Peace.)
A wonder thing is now befall; (Of heaven and earth,) King that formed star and sun, (A wonder thing.)
Heaven and earth and angels all, Now in mankind is new begun: Such wonder tidings ye may hear, An infant now of but one year, That hath been ever and shall be ay.
What tidings bringest thou, messenger, Of Christes birth this jolly day?
That loveliest gan greet her child, “Hail, son! Hail, brother! Hail, father dear! Hail, daughter! Hail, sister! Hail, mother mild!”
This hailing was of quaint mannere: Such wonder tidings ye may hear, That hailing was of such good cheer. That mannes pain is turned to play.
A babe is born, alleluia, a babe is born!
Audience
HYMN: O Little Town of Bethlehem
Tune: Lewis H. Redner (1831-1908)
Text: Phillips Brooks (1835-93)
There Is No Rose of Such Virtue
Ponderosa Tenor Bass Choir
There is no rose of such virtue as is the rose that bare Jesu; For in this rose contained was Heaven and earth in little space. Res miranda. Alleluia. (Wonderful thing.)
By that rose we may well see that he is God in persons three; Then leave we all this worldly mirth, and follow we this joyful birth. Transeamus. Pariforma. (Let us follow, equal in form.)
The Yearning
Ponderosa Tenor Bass Choir
There is a yearning in hearts weighed down by ancient grief and centuries of sorrow. There is a yearning in hearts that in the darkness hide and in the shades of death abide, A yearning for tomorrow.
There is a yearning for the promised One, the firstborn of Creation. There is a yearning for the Lord who visited His own, And by His death our sin atoned, to bring to us Salvation. Emmanuel, Emmanuel, within our hearts, the yearning.
There is a yearning that fills the hearts of those who wait the day of His appearing. There is a yearning when all our sorrows are erased, and we shall see The One who placed within our hearts the yearning. Emmanuel, Emmanuel, within our hearts, the yearning.
God Is with Us
arr.
Whitworth Choir
Zeke O’Donnell, cantor
God is with us! Understand, all you nations, And submit yourselves, for God is with us!
Hear you, unto the ends of the earth:
For God is with us.
Submit yourselves, you mighty ones: For God is with us.
Even if your strength returns, you shall be overthrown once more. Take counsel together, if you wish, but it will come to nothing; make your plan if you wish but they will never stand even among yourselves. For God is with us.
We do not fear your threat, nor are we troubled, for the Lord our God is holy and only him we will fear.
For God is with us.
If I trust in Him, He shall be my sanctification. I will wait for Him, he will save me. For God is with us.
Behold, I and the children whom God hath given me, your sign and portents in Israel, from the Lord of hosts.
For God is with us.
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.
To those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, the light is risen. For God is with us
Marc A. Hafsø (b. 1955)
Craig Courtney (b. 1954)
Valaam Chant, Tone 8
Vladimir Morosan (b. 1957)
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given. And the government shall be upon His shoulder. And of His peace there shall be no end.
For God is with us.
And his name shall be called the Angel of Great Council, Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Eternal Ruler, Prince of Peace, the Father of the world to come. For God is with us.
Reading: Remembering That It Happened Once Wendell Berry
Jonathan Moo
Christmas Cantata
Whitworth Choir
Whitworth Brass Quintet
Quem vidistis, pastores? Dicite: Annuntiate nobis in terris Quis apparuit. Natum vidimus, Et choros angelorum Collaudantes Dominum. Alleluia.
O magnum mysterium et admirabile sacramentum. Ut animalia viderent Dominum natum.
Jacentem in praesepio
Beata virgo cujus viscera
Meruerunt portare Dominum, Christum.
Refrain:
Gloria in excelsis Deo Et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis.
Verses:
Jubilate Deo omnis terra, Servite Dominum in laetitia.
Introite in conspectu ejus, In exsultatione.
Scitote quoniam Dominus ipse est Deus Ipse fecit nos et non ipsi nos. Alleluia.
Daniel Pinkham (1923-2006)
Whom did you see, shepherds? Speak: Proclaim to us on Earth Who has appeared. We saw the newborn child, And choirs of angels Praising the Lord. Alleluia.
O great mystery And wonderful sacrament. That the animals might see the newborn Lord, Lying in a manger!
O blessed virgin whose womb Was worthy to bear the Lord, Christ.
Refrain:
Glory to God in the highest, And on Earth peace to men of good will.
Verses:
Be joyful to God, all the Earth, Serve the Lord with gladness. Enter into His presence With Exultation.
Know now that the Lord is God; He made us, and not we ourselves. Alleluia.
Psalm 150
O praise God in his holiness:
Forest Treble Choir
Praise his in the firmament of his pow’r. Alleluia!
Praise him in his noble acts:
Praise him according to his excellent greatness. Alleluia!
Praise him in the sound of the trumpet:
Praise upon the lute and harp.
Praise him in the cymbals and dances:
Praise him upon the strings and pipe.
Praise him upon the well-tun’d cymbals.
Praise him upon the loud cymbals.
Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.
Alleluia, praise the Lord!
Brightest and Best
Forest Treble Choir
Samarra Salcido, violin
London Meredith, bass
Hail the bless’d morn, see the great Mediator
Down from the regions of glory descend!
Shepherds go worship the babe in the manger, Lo, for his guard the bright angels attend.
Refrain:
Brightest and best of the stars of the morning, Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid.
Star in the East, the horizon adorning, Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.
Cold on his cradle the dewdrops are shining, Low lies his bed with the beasts of the stall. Angels adore him in slumber reclining, Maker, and Monarch, and Savior of all.
Refrain
Shall we not yield him, in costly devotion, Odours of Edom and off’rings divine, Gems of the mountains and pearls of the ocean, Myrrh from the forest and gold from the mine?
Refrain
Reading: Philippians 4:4-9
Katherine Karr-Cornejo
David Willcocks (1919-2015)
Southern Harmony (1835) arr. Shawn Kirchner (b. 1970)
Pat-A-Pan Burgundian Carol arr. Rosalind Hall (Living)
Ponderosa Tenor Bass Choir
Karissa Nakamura, John Bodinger, piano
Emily Nixon, piccolo
Luke Wagner, snare drum
Willie bring your little drum, Robin bring your fife and come. Now we play the fife an’ drum.
Refrain:
Tu-re-lu-re-lu, Pat-a-pat-a-pan, When we hear the fife an’ drum, We will know that Christ has come!
As the men of olden days let us sing a song of praise, Now we play the fife an’ drum.
Refrain
God and man are now as one, More at one than fife and drum.
Refrain
Willie bring your little drum, Robin bring your fife and come. Now we play the fife an’ drum.
Refrain
Jubilate Deo
Jubilate Deo!
Jubilate omnis terra. Servite Domino in laetitia. Introite in conspectu ejus in exultatione.
Tung! Tuh tung ki tung! Da ring da ring.
Whitworth Choir
Rejoice in the Lord! Rejoice, all the Earth. Serve the Lord with gladness. Come into his presence with exultation.
(Imitation sound of Korean percussion instruments)
Hyowon Woo (b. 1974)
Blessed Assurance Traditional Hymn arr. Byron J.
Blessed Assurance; Jesus is mine.
Oh what a foretaste of glory divine. Heir of salvation. Purchase of God.
Born in His everlasting spirit and His ever-flowing blood.
Perfect submission. All is at rest.
I in my savior am happy and blessed.
Watching and waiting, Looking above; Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
This is my story, this is my song:
I’m praising my Prince of peace almighty God.
(Praise God from whom all blessings flow.)
Praise all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song.
I’m praising my ever-loving Savior, we will always sing His praises all day long.
(Lord and Savior Jesus Christ all day long.)
This is my story, this is my song.
I’m praising my Savior all the day long.
Blessed assurance, all the day long.
Smith (b. 1960)
Whitworth Choir
HYMN: O Come All Ye Faithful
Audience
All Choirs
Whitworth Brass Quintet and Organ
Tune: John Francis Wade
Text: Trans. Frederick Oakley arr. David Willcocks (1919-2015)
Festival Alleluias arr. William Ferris (1937-2000)
Set to Toccata from Symphony No. 5
All Choirs
John Bodinger, Organ
Whitworth Brass Quintet
Luke Wagner, percussion
Alleluia! Praise the Lord!
aCharles-Marie Widor (1844-1937) arr. Xiaosha Lin (Brass quintet)
THE WHITWORTH CHOIR
Xiaosha Lin, director
REHEARSAL PIANIST
Alexis Asato ’27, Wailuku, Hawaii
SOPRANO
Katelyn Booth ’27, Mukilteo
Ella Davis ’26, Spokane
Natalie Ellis ’27 †, Missoula, Mont.
Audrey Goins ’26 ^, Richland
Grace Kaiserman ’29, Spokane Valley
Lizzie Krieg ’28, Sumas
Anzhela Tymofiienko ’26, Spokane Valley
Eleanor Van Mieghem ’29, Edmonds
TENOR
Jim Brandon ’28 †, Athol, Idaho
James Fischer ’28 †, Spokane
Gabriel Gaines ’29, Spokane
Liam Getzin ’27, Port Angeles
Zeke O’Donnell ’27 ^, Ephrata
ALTO
Erika Armstrong ’26 †, Spokane
Zoey Byrd ’27 †, Columbia Falls, Mont.
Madeline Davis ’27, Spokane
Ava Lynn Goins ’28, Richland
Moriah Irish ’28 †, Happy Valley, Ore.
Sophie Lamer ’29, Bothell
Mekenna Simpson ’27 †^, Milton-Freewater, Ore.
Olivia Smith ’26 †, Lake Tapps
BASS
Dakota Bair ’28, Lake Stevens
Chris Byrd ’26, Tacoma
Trace Ferguson ’29, Spokane
Kyle Gilbert ’27 ^, Spokane
William Strauch ’28, Spokane
Zaden Yangas ’29, Ellensburg
^Section Leader | †Leadership Team
FOREST TREBLE CHOIR
Xiaosha Lin, director
COLLABORATIVE PIANIST
Lizzie Krieg ’28, Sumas
SOPRANO I
Alyssa Hammer ’27 †, Richland
Claire Howard ’29, Puyallup
Elisabeth Korb ’26, Issaquah
Heidi Kuns ’29, Beaverton, Ore.
Lilian McIlraith ’29, Lake Oswego, Ore.
Lydia McNelly ’26 †, Pullman
Julia Petersen ’28, Spokane Valley
Rachel Zahn ’29, Tumwater
SOPRANO II
Keara Anderson ’29 †, Beaverton, Ore.
Carrie Bartlett ’28 †, Enumclaw
Adison Carlson ’28, Polson, Mont.
Kira Clark ’29, Friday Harbor
Janna Croskrey ’29, La Center
Claire Emmans ’26 †, Yakima
Kate Holmes ’29, North Bend
Teodora Nesheva ’29, Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
Gia Warren ’27, Lake Stevens
ALTO I
Aliyah Crabbe ’29, Spokane
Cadi Emmans ’29 †, Deer Park
Vivyetta Hirschfelder ’26 ^, Scio, Ore.
Brynn Jaklich ’27, Spokane
Aspen Rose Rademacher ’28, Spokane
Kristina Sorochuk ’27, Moses Lake
Dara Wiebe ’28, Santa Barbara, Calif.
ALTO II
Wynter Bradley ’29, Hamilton, Mont.
Erika Foot ’28 ^, Helena, Mont.
Lydia Froescher ’29 †, St. Paul, Ore.
Twilight Lambright ’29, Everett
Harmony Pakootas ’28 †, Inchelium
Carys Rich ’29, Lake Stevens
Donna Rose Seaman ’29, Snoqualmie
^Section Leader | †Leadership Team
PONDEROSA TENOR BASS CHOIR
Scott D. Miller, director
COLLABORATIVE PIANIST
Karissa Nakamura ’28, Richland
TENOR
Jim Brandon ’28, Athol, Idaho
Ta Hoang Duy ’28, Hanoi, Vietnam
Gabriel Gaines ’29, Spokane
Eli Harris ’26, Tacoma
Nathanael Heaton ’29, Mead
Patrick MacIntosh ’26, Abbotsford, British Columbia
Zeke O’Donnell ’27, Ephrata
BASS
Cooper Siems ’27, Tacoma
Elijah Thiry ’28, Spokane
Jonas Stachowiak ’28, Renton
Julian Gossard ’27, Pullman
Luciano Bellissimo ’27, Cashmere
Nicholas Baker ’27, Wauconda
Owen Peterson ’29, Battleground
Spencer Jones ’28, Salem, Ore.
Handbell Choir
Xiaosha Lin, director
Zeke O’Donnell ’27, student conductor
Dakota Bair ’28, Lake Stevens
Zoey Byrd ’27, Columbia Falls, Mont.
Katelyn Booth ’27, Mukilteo
Chris Byrd ’26, Tacoma
Adison Carlson ’28, Polson, Mont.
Ella Davis ’26, Spokane
James Fischer ’28, Spokane
Kyle Gilbert ’27, Spokane
Lizzie Krieg ’28, Sumas
Julia Maher ’26, Whidbey Island
Lilian McIlraith ’29, Lake Oswego, Ore.
Michael Perry ’27, Richland
Sawyer Peterson ’29, Spokane
William Strauch ’28, Kingston
Zaden Yangas ’29, Ellensburg
COLLABORATING ARTISTS
WHITWORTH BRASS QUINTET
TRUMPET
Julia Maher ’26
Matthew Thornell ’26
HORN
Isaac Crawford-Heim ’26
TROMBONE
William Strauch ’28
Sawyer Peterson ’29
TUBA
Michael Perry ’27
ORGAN
John Bodinger, DMA, Guest Artist
PICCOLO
Emily Nixon, guest artist
PERCUSSION
Max Bartron ’27
Luke Wagner ’25
HARP
Joy Zickau, guest artist
OBOE, VIOLIN
Samarra Salcido ’26
BASS
London Meredith ’28
READERS
Jonathan Moo, Bruner-Welch Endowed Chair in Theology
Katherine Karr-Cornejo, Professor of World Languages & Cultures
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Whitworth University President: Scott McQuilkin
Choral Librarian and Program Assistance: Kyle Gilbert ’27
Poster and Program Design: Heidi Jantz
Whitworth Music Department Program Coordinator: Melissa Halverson
Stage Manager: Sam Parker ’28
The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Spokane’s own listener-supported public radio station, KPBX-FM 91.1, will broadcast Whitworth’s Christmas Festival Concert in its entirety on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, beginning at about 10:30 p.m.
We wish to express our heartfelt thanks to the staff of KPBX for their strong support of Whitworth’s Christmas Festival Concerts.
WHITWORTH UNIVERSITY
Since 1890, Whitworth has held fast to its founding mission to provide “an education of mind and heart” through rigorous intellectual inquiry guided by dedicated Christian scholars. Recognized as one of the top regional colleges and universities in the West, Whitworth University has an enrollment of about 2,500 students and offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Whitworth University’s 200-acre campus of red-brick buildings and tall pines offers a beautiful, inviting and secure learning environment. More than $135 million in campus improvements have been made in recent years, including an expanded dining hall, a rec center, a science hall, an athletics leadership center and a graduate health sciences building.
In all of its endeavors, Whitworth seeks to advance its founder’s mission of equipping students to “honor God, follow Christ and serve humanity.”
For application information: Office of Admissions
Whitworth University
300 W. Hawthorne Road Spokane, WA 99251
509.777.3212
admissions@whitworth.edu
whitworth.edu/admissions
MUSIC AT WHITWORTH
The Whitworth University Music Department, accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, provides superb training in music as well as a thorough introduction to this essential element of the liberal arts. Whitworth music majors have gone on to prestigious graduate schools, fulfilling performance careers and successful teaching positions. Also, many non-music majors participate in the university’s renowned touring ensembles and enroll in private lessons through the music department. Whitworth University offers bachelor of arts degrees in composition, music production & songwriting, instrumental performance, jazz performance, string pedagogy, voice performance, and music education. Music scholarships are available to both music majors and non-majors.
For more information about the music program or scholarship auditions, please contact us: Music Department
Whitworth University Spokane, WA 99251
509.777.3280
whitworth.edu/music
facebook.com/whitworthmusic instagram.com/whitworthmusic youtube.com/whitworthuniversitymusicdepartment
