Tusculum Community Chorus performs

December 8, 2025   |   7:30 pm @ Tusculum University

GREENEVILLE– Members of theTusculum UniversityCommunity Chorus are putting the final touches on their upcoming Christmas concert, which will feature a variety of music.

The chorus performs “Illuminare” by Elaine Hagenberg Monday, Dec. 8, at 7:30 p.m. in the Marilyn duBrisk Theatre of Annie Hogan Byrd Fine Arts Center. It is a five-movement piece complete with a chamber orchestra that will last about 30 minutes. “Illuminare” is also the overall name for the concert, which will contain four different elements for the audience’s enjoyment.

The concert is free, but donations are welcome.

“We are excited about our performance as we prepare to sing beautiful new music for the community,” said Kathy May, the chorus’ conductor and director. “We are particularly thrilled to add the orchestral component to our show, which will complement the high-quality voices our chorus brings. This is a can’t-miss concert for the community, and we encourage everyone to join us.”

“Illuminare” the segment is just three years old, and this concert is the first time it will be performed in this area. The music is serious. The chamber orchestra will have close to 20 performers who will play the violin, viola, cello, bass, flute, oboe and percussion.

In addition to “Illuminare,” the chorus sings “Thou Must Leave Thy Lowly Dwelling” by Hector Berlioz, which is another serious piece. But the group also has fun as it performs “A Consort of Christmas Carols,” which consists of three humorous songs by Peter Schickele. He presented them under the composition name of the fictional P.D.Q. Bach. As P.D.Q. Bach, Schickele won four consecutive Grammy Awards for best comedy album from 1990-1993.

The concert concludes with a sing-along of Christmas selections that will enable the audience to participate. It will include a piano duo featuring Tim Hybarger and Karen Miller, and the orchestra members will be invited to join the celebration as well. May is keeping the names of the sing-along songs a secret until the night of the concert.

Also under wraps is a special surprise the chorus has planned for the evening, but May promises the audience will find it quite appealing.

“Our guests will experience quite a breadth and depth of music in this concert,” May said. “The songs will strengthen the Christmas spirit for our audience and prepare them well for the birth of Jesus. We welcome the opportunity to add to the Christmas season with this performance.”

Here is the order of songs for the concert:

“Thou Must Leave Thy Lowly Dwelling”by Hector Berlioz

“A Consort of Christmas Carols”by Peter Schickele

• “Throw the Yule Log On, Uncle John”
• “O Little Town of Hackensack”
• “Good King Kong Looked Out”

“Illuminare”

• “Splendor”
• “Caritas”
• “Nox”
• “Munera pacis”
• “Illuminare his”

Sing-along

Anyone with questions can email Steve Schultz, director of Tusculum Arts Outreach, atsschultz@tusculum.edu. More information about the university is available atwww.tusculum.edu.