Oxford Civic Chorus (OCC) celebrates the holiday season with its winter concert, the Christmas portion of Handel’s Messiah. The concert takes place at 3 pm Sunday, December 9 at David H. Nutt Auditorium, under the direction of W. Thomas Ardrey. Cookies and hot chocolate will be offered to attendees at the reception following the hour-long performance. OCC board president Stephanie Young believes in the importance of acknowledging the efforts of the chorus’s current and previous artistic directors.
“This is our 20th season, and we want to recognize the many artistic directors that have shaped OCC,” Young said. “We’ve invited all the previous artistic directors, and many will be attending, including Gabriel Statom, our founding director. This concert will be in their honor.”
Other former directors include Dr. Martha Hitch, Dr. Robert Aubrey, Philip Walkley, Dr. Herbert Jones, Dr. Jerry Jordan and Mrs. Jean Jordan, Brooke Bagley Worthy, and the current director, Thomas Ardrey.
“We are deeply grateful for the leadership of such talented men and women,” Young said. “The choir has enriched the lives of hundreds of singers and even more patrons over the years, thanks in part to the extraordinary commitment of these directors.”
About: Oxford Civic Chorus has been inspiring singers, enriching community and expanding musical horizons since 1998. The choir gathers for weekly rehearsals, performs two concerts a year, and is available to sing at local events. For more information, visit
facebook.com/oxfordcivicchorus or oxfordcivicchorus.org. 
