Dear Orange Friends:
On Sunday night in Hendricks Chapel, hundreds of Syracuse students, faculty, staff, and community members came together in the miracle that is “Holidays at Hendricks,” the Hendricks Chapel Holiday Concert at Syracuse University. These performers, from seven choirs and ensembles, were brought together by Peppie Calvar, artistic director, with incomparable accompaniment from Anne Laver, University organist.
Though it was the night before exam week, every seat was filled and many stood in the balconies and at the back. No matter where you sat or stood, you heard wonderful and heartfelt performances, honoring many traditions. The combined choirs brought down the house with a soul version of Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus”; the Syracuse University Brass Ensemble was, well, brassy and joyful; and the Liverpool First United Methodist Church Handbell Choir rang in the holidays with peace and wonder.
Every once in a while you see the people of Syracuse come together with happiness and hard work to pull off something special, beyond excellence and reaching inspiration. That happened Sunday night, in the heart of our campus. If you missed it, the concert will be broadcast on WCNY several times during the week of Dec. 22. I hope you will tune in.
Thank you to all of you who participated in this miracle of the season.
Chancellor Kent Syverud