The Bethlehem 2000 Project News Brief, Vol. 2; No.15, Sept. 6, 1999

To celebrate Christmas Eve 1999 in Bethlehem six international choirs, two Palestinian choirs and one American soul singer will join Palestinians and their guests in celebrating the last Christmas of this millennium.

The following choirs will perform in Manger Square on Christmas Eve 1999

Muugano National Choir, Kenya

The Muugano National Choir was founded by conductor and composer Boniface Mganga in Kenya in 1979. The choir sings a capella, though occasionally their components make use of drums, kayamba (reed rattle) and triangle accompaniment. Its repertoire ranges from Kenyan tribal songs to Christmas songs as well as Western music and even African pop. Nonetheless, it is the Choir's recorded version of the African mass Missa Luba that has made the Muugano National Choir a world-renowned ensemble. Missa Luba, written by a Belgium Catholic priest in the Congo, has become an African spiritual anthem.

Liz McComb, Gospel Singer, USA

Like Aretha Franklin before her, Liz Mc Comb was born the daughter of a preacher. It was at the gatherings in the Pentecostal Church of her native Ohio that Liz McComb's distinctive style first began to develop. The Pentecostal Church is the branch of American Protestantism noted for its frenzied rhythms and joyful chants. It is through her rhythms that Liz McComb hypnotizes her audiences. Her career has been unanimously acclaimed, particularly in Europe, where she has been credited with the revival and newfound popularity that Gospel and Negro Spirituals are enjoying. She currently resides in France.

Coro Nacional de Cuba, Cuba

Founded in 1981 by Digna Guerra Ramrez, the Coro Nacional de Cuba is a mixed chamber Choir with a varied repertoire consisting of: Spanish, Italian and English Renaissance polyphony, Negro Spirituals, contemporary music, and Latin-American and Cuban folklore. The Coro Nacional de Cuba or Coro Entrevoces has become one of the most sought-out ensembles in Latin-America. Apart from its participation in festivals (recently, the Choir was laureate of the German Lindenholzhausen Festival). The Coro Nacional de Cuba appears regularly on Cuban TV and takes part in soundtrack recordings for the cinema.

Coro Misto da Covilh Portuguese Choir and Orchestra

The 80-member Coro Misto da Covilh with the accompaniment of their Orchestra will perform its Christmas Oratorio, under the direction of conductor Luis Cipriano. Christmas Eve in Bethlehem will be the Oratorio's world premiere. The Coro Misto da Covilh is celebrated = for the range and quality of its voices.

Tschaikovsky Municipal Choir, Izhevsk\Russia

Founded in 1992 the Tshaikovsky Municipal Choir first started rehearsing at The Musical Society of the Udmurt Republic with a repertoire that included both foreign and Russian musicians, paying particular attention to composers from the Udmurt Republic. The Choir, often accompanied by an orchestra, has taken part in various festivals, such as Marktoberdorf in Germany, Europa Cantata in Denmark, and the VI International Contest in Athens, Greece. In the latter, the Tshaikovsky Municipal Choir was awarded several prizes. The Choir also took the lead in conducting the music festival devoted to the 200th anniversary of Franz Schubert, and performed his greatest Choral work.

Master's Voice, Sweden

Founded in 1988 at the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm, Master's Voice consists of 27 professional singers from different Christian communities. Master's Voice is a leader among the European Gospel Choirs. The Master's Voice Choir likes to describe itself as a "very dynamic and humble Choir with a united goal: to sing the gospel of Christ". Under the direction of Maria Sandell, the Choir regularly appears on Swedish TV.

Bible College Choir, Bethlehem

The Bible College Choir is part of the Bethlehem Bible College, established in 1979 to train and prepare its students to be servants for the Palestinian community and its churches. The Choir itself exemplifies a strong social and religious commitment to service. Its distinctive Middle East style, its repertoire of music from the historic churches, as well as contemporary Arab Christian music, is a testimony to the hardships and transformations undergone by the Palestinian people. The Bible College Choir has also made several international tours.

Ud Alnad Byzantine Choral Group, Nazareth

Ud Alnad Byzantine Choral Group was founded in Nazareth in 1994 under the direction of its present-day conductor, Kati Jarjura. The Choral Group has won important international awards and distinctions for it's Byzantine music. Its presence in Bethlehem on this Christmas Eve is particularly important because of the special relationship between Nazareth and Bethlehem.

Kantorei Choir, Germany

The Kantorei Choir was founded and is directed by Professor Volker Hempfling, a remarkable researcher, organist and Kantor of the Evangelic Cathedral as well as Director of the Domkantorei in Altenberg, Germany. The Kantorei's repertoire is focused in choral music from the Romantic period and the 20th century. Since 1986 the Choir has been performing throughout Germany and European countries. The Choir took part in the celebrations of the 10th Anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of the German Federal Republic.