Opening the Christmas concert season for both Brownwood ISD and Howard Payne University, the Brownwood High School A Cappella Choir will be performing with University Singers, thanks to the vision of Dr. Gregory Church, Associate Professor of Music for Howard Payne University, and director of University Singers, along with Mrs. Cindy Franklin, BHS Choir Director.

University Singers is a non-audition choir, made up of HPU students and community members from Brownwood, Early and the surrounding area.

Dr. Church issued an invitation earlier this year to A Cappella Choir to join University Singers in performing John Rutter’s “Gloria” on Tuesday, December 3rd. This concert will open the Christmas concert season for both HPU and Brownwood ISD. A variety of other pieces will also be included in the evening’s concert, ranging from Hot Chocolate from “The Polar Express” to “Jingle Bells” as performed by Barbra Streisand, and “Betelehemu”, an a cappella Nigerian carol, sung in the original Yoruban language, accompanied by conga, bongos, and tambourines.

“This has been a great opportunity for A Cappella Choir to be able to learn challenging music and perform with more mature voices, as well as to work with a vocal instructor and choral conductor of Dr. Church’s caliber,” said Mrs. Franklin. “I’ve enjoyed sharing this music with the students and letting them be involved in something that few high school choirs get to experience.”

A Cappella Choir has worked on the music during their choir class during the week, as well as with University Singers in their regular rehearsals on Monday evenings at HPU.

The Concert will be held Tuesday, December 3rd at 7:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church, Brownwood, and is free to the public.