The Chamber Choir opens the concert with “O Love,” expressing 19th century Scottish poet Rev. George Matheson’s sense that love can lift the soul above sadness, just as one traces the rainbow through the rain. The Chamber Choir sings a new melodic setting by composer Elaine Hagenberg, which reinforces the soaring quality of the timeless hymn.

Composer Rollo Dillworth based “When Dreams Take Flight” on renowned 19th century African-American poet Paul Laurence Dunbar’s “Dreams,” which reminds us that as with flights of fancy, withering sadness also will pass away. The Chamber Choir’s performance features soprano Talia Schneider, a junior musical theatre major from Altamont, Ill., and tenor Corbin Doucette, a sophomore music major from Cabool, Mo.

The longing to escape from troubles that tinge many spirituals appears powerfully in “Let Me Fly,” which opens the Concert Choir’s portion of the concert.  This arrangement by Robert DeCormier features baritone Kar’Mel Brewer, a senior music education major from St. Louis.

Kim André Arnesen’s “Flight Song” calls for collaboration as it is set to Welsh poet Euan Tait’s lyrical call to sing one’s own heart’s melody, together even in isolation. The conductor’s arms shape like wings to gather in each singer’s longing to fly towards others’ suffering and offer new life. “The Boy Who Picked Up His Feet to Fly” concludes the Concert Choir’s portion of the program and captures the sense of the times with optimistic whimsey. Composer Joshua Shank suggests that wishing to fly away can bring exhilarating joy but adds that in a time of danger, be careful what you wish for.

Songs of Flight is available on SoundCloud at: .

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The concert will begin with the 60-voice Collegiate Choir singing a joyful, syncopated processional based on the ancient chant “Veni, Veni Emmanuel” by Michael John Trotta, continue the rhythmic energy with “Noél Ayisyen,” a carol from Haiti, and then showcase seasonal works of John Rutter, Eric Whitacre and Charles Ives.

The Chamber Choir will offer a wide contrast of styles, ranging from the “Hodie Christus natus est” of Heinrich Schütz to the lovely Hugo Distler arrangement of “Lo! How a Rose E’er Blooming” and the more angular and syncopated “Ave Maria” by Javier Busto.

The Concert Choir enters with its own processional to an arrangement of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” arranged with a completely different sense of time and grandeur. Capturing the rejoicing of the season with the Parker/Shaw arrangement of “Christ was born on Christmas Day” and “Hallelujah, Christ is Born” by Rosephanye Powell, the Concert Choir charges the tempo with André J. Thomas’s “Rockin’ Jerusalem” before returning to the peace of the season in the Hughes/Loose “Lullaby for a King” and ending with their traditional “Peace, Peace” with candlelight “Silent Night.”

Scotty Allison conducts all the choral ensembles.

A brass quintet and saxophone quartet will provide instrumental interludes under the direction of Aren Van Houzen and Trent Hollinger respectively. A dessert reception in Merillat Chapel and Recital Hall will follow the concert, with light seasonal music provided by various instrumental ensembles.

Admission is free. The concert also will be streamed live on Culver-Stockton’s Facebook page.

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