St. Matthias HS students make music in Southland

San Pedro Region

The music students at St. Matthias High School in Downey are preparing for their Christmas Concert, "In Bethlehem," scheduled for Dec. 17 at 7:30 p.m.

The concert will feature A Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten, a multi-movement work for women's choir, soloists and harp; Jesus Child by John Rutter; and other works by such composers as Schütz, Parker, Paulus, and Floyd. Also included in the concert will be performances by St. Matthias' handbell choirs, the Laudate Ringers and Victorian Bells, of such works as "O Thou that Tellest Good Things to Zion" from Handel's Messiah, and "O Little Town of Bethlehem" by Louis Redner.

Tickets are on sale for $5 and can be purchased at the door. For more information, call (562) 861-2271.

Frances Johnson, St. Matthias music director and chair of its Fine Arts program, said the Canticum Novum, the vocal group consisting of selected singers, was invited to sing at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angeles downtown on Dec. 14, as part of the Cathedral's annual festival of area youth choirs. The Laudate Ringers will be appearing at Disneyland on February 18, 2004.