The New Madrid County Central Singing Eagles, performing as a guest of the University Choir, also will perform. Choir directors are Dr. John Egbert and Judy Henry.

The University Choir will open the concert with a set of pieces "From the European Tradition: Sound the Trumpet" (Purcell); "Ehre sei dem Vater" (Schütz); "Pavanne" (Fauré); "The Garden of Seraglio" (Stenhammer) and "I Will Sing Unto the Lord" (Raminsh). The University Choir's accompanist is senior piano major Tyson Wunderlich.

The New Madrid County Singing Eagles will perform: "Singing Hye-Ho" (Petker); "Song for the Unsung Hero" (Martin); "Blow, Blow Thou Winter Wind" (Rutter); "Gloria" (Vivaldi); "Salvation Is Created" (Tschesnokoff); and "Resonet In Laudibus" (Leavitt).

The University Choir will conclude the concert with "An American Christmas," which includes traditional favorite "Mary Had a Baby" (Dawson) and "The Babe of Bethlehem," a traditional Shaker tune arranged for the University Choir by local music teacher, Mary Mims. Eric Whitacre, one of America's brightest young composers, is also represented with his new Christmas work, "Lux Aurumque."

Doors to the concert open to the public at 7:15 p.m. Tickets are now available and can be reserved by calling the University Performing Box Office. Tickets also will be available at the door. Admission is $6 for adults; $5 for senior citizens and University faculty/staff; and $4 for all students. For additional information, call the Southeast Missouri State University Performing Box Office at (573) 651-2265 or the Department of Music at (573) 651-2141.

Free concert shuttles will be provided to and from Academic Hall from several University parking lots on Henderson, running from approximately 7:15 to 9:15 p.m. Henderson Street lots, from which shuttle service will be provided, are: Lot 52 (across Henderson from Cheney Hall), Lot 35 (next to Cheney Hall) and Lot 1 (Dempster business building).

The University's next choral concert is Tuesday, Dec. 3, when the University Choir, Choral Union, and Southeast Missouri Symphony Orchestra present a concert entitled, "An American Celebration." The program features Randall Thompson's timeless "Frostiana," Howard Hanson's powerful "Song of Democracy," and Mack Wilberg's stirring new folk song setting, "Thou Gracious God, Whose Mercy Lends."