(Posted November 20, 2006)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- The Juniata College Choral Union will bring a little bit of island cheer to the chilly climate of Pennsylvania as the ensemble performs "A Caribbean Christmas Mass" at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 5 in Rosenberger Auditorium in the Halbritter Center for the Performing Arts.
The concert is free and open to the public. The Choral Union is directed by Russell Shelley, Elma Stine Heckler Associate Professor of Music at Juniata.
"A Caribbean Christmas Mass" is written by Glenn McClure, a composer based in Geneseo, N.Y. As an added treat, McClure will be playing steel drum to accompany the choir and its musical accompanists.
McClure has written a variety of choral and instrumental music, including "St. Francis in the Americas: A Caribbean Mass" and his Christmas mass. His work is noted for its mix of classical music with ethnic music traditions. McClure also works as an arts integration consultant for the Bronx Arts Council, the Distance Learning Consortium and other arts organizations. He is a member of the board of directors for the New York State Alliance for the Arts.
He also is a design consultant for the Online Memorial to American Slaves, which is a digital museum designed to share scholarship on American slavery history.
The Choral Union is the largest choral ensemble at Juniata with a student membership of more than 50 and more than 25 members from communities in the Huntingdon area. The Juniata Choral Union traditionally performs larger choral works.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.