Tickets for the popular annual Hope College Christmas Vespers services, a 77-year tradition, will be sold to the public beginning on Monday, Nov. 5, at the Events and Conferences Office in the Anderson-Werkman Financial Center.
Christmas Vespers will be presented on Saturday, Dec. 1, at 4:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 2, at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
The program of Christmas carols and anthems is presented by the college’s Department of Music and features more than 200 performers in historic Dimnent Memorial Chapel. The services feature a variety of Hope instrumental and vocal groups as well as the college’s historic Skinner organ.
Christmas Vespers was first held on Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941. The timing, Pearl Harbor Day, was coincidental, with the program having been planned earlier in the semester. The first service included performances by multiple ensembles, as well as an organ soloist and an organ and piano duet, and ended with the Chapel Choir singing the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s “Messiah.”
In response to strong audience interest, Christmas Vespers expanded to two services annually beginning in 1967, three services beginning in 1973 and to the current total of four services beginning in 1978.
Tickets are $10 each, with a limit of four per person. Tickets will not be sold at the services.
The Events and Conferences Office is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The office can be called at 616-395-7890.
The Anderson-Werkman Financial Center is located in downtown Holland at 100 E. Eighth St., between College and Columbia avenues. Dimnent Memorial Chapel is located at 277 College Ave., at the corner of College Avenue and 12th Street.