Wabash Valley College and the Wabash Valley Arts Council are pleased to usher in the Christmas season with “The Musical Spirit of Christmas” concert this Sunday, December 3 at 1:30 p.m. in the Brubeck Arts Center Theatre.

Opening the concert will be the Wabash Valley College Community Choir under the direction of Guest Director Gary Hargett. Directing music is nothing new for Gary Hargett. The Mt. Carmel native and Mt. Carmel High School graduate has many years of choir directing experience, starting at the young age of 16. After earning a degree in Music Education from Oakland City University, Gary served as an organist and choir director in the United Church of Christ in St. Louis for 40 years. He currently serves as the Minister of Music at the First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ in Mt. Carmel.

The WVC Community Choir, whose membership ranges in age from high school students to senior citizens, will perform a blend of secular and religious songs. Besides singing popular traditional Christmas songs, the choir will perform “Keep Christ in Christmas” which Hargett composed.

The Choir will end with a sing-along of “Joy to the World.”

Choir members include: Janice Alka, Nancy Atchison, Pat Cotsakis, Claudia Dant, Peggy Kolb, Mary Wonzik, JoEtta Briggs, Sharon Mobley, Gail Ritz, Jackie Summers, Carolyn Tennis, Shelby McKnight, Kelsey Phelps, Sue Schmidt, Lori Ann Schwartz, Mary Trimble, Jamey Walston, Victoria Bayne, Diana Daniel, Carolyn Highhouse, Shirley Goodman, Amy Ireland, Brenda Marriott, Andrew Jordan, Jim Summers, Joe Thompson, George Beckerman, Bill Berry, Dub Dallas and Barry Roberts. Alison Dudley is the piano accompanist.

The second half of the concert will feature recording artists, The Browne Sisters. The Browne Sisters, Gina Moore and Joan Mobley-Moore are from Evansville, Indiana. The Christmas songs to be performed by The Browne Sisters will be familiar to many but staged with fresh vocal stylings that audiences love.

The Musical Spirit of Christmas is a concert the entire family will want to attend. Tickets are $6 and are available by calling 618-263-5124, or seatonc@iecc.edu. Patron Passes will be honored.