Fall Arts Celebration holiday concert to honor "The Many Moods of Christmas"

Robert Shaw’s “The Many Moods of Christmas” meshes together pieces of 18 of the most traditional carols combined with music from famous composers such as Handel, Bizet and Bach.

Renowned choral conductor Craig Jessop will lead the Grand Valley State University Arts Chorale and local high school students as they perform the piece during a special Fall Arts Celebration concert.

“Celebrating Holiday Splendor: Craig Jessop Conducts ‘The Many Moods of Christmas’” will take place December 3, at 7:30 p.m., at Fountain Street Church in Grand Rapids (24 Fountain Street NE). The concert is free and open to the public.

Jessop, professor of music and founding dean of the Cain College of the Arts at Utah State University, is the former director of the world-famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir. He led the ensemble as a featured conductor during the opening ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

“Craig Jessop is a true American treasure, and he is without doubt one of the foremost expert choral conductors and choral interpreters in the world today,” said Danny Phipps, chair of Grand Valley’s Music, Theatre, and Dance Department. “I am very excited that our students will have an opportunity to work with this legendary conductor because those who remain in the fields of choral performance or choral education will never forget working with him, nor will audiences forget that they heard the ‘Many Moods’ conducted by one of the most accomplished and celebrated Choral conductors in America today.”

For more information about Fall Arts Celebration, visit gvsu.edu/fallarts.