The Holidays at Westminster Festival will conclude with a concert entitled “De Colores: Christmas Music from the African-American and Latino Traditions” on Friday, December 14 and Saturday, December 15 at 8:00 p.m. in Bristol Chapel on the campus of Westminster Choir College of Rider University in Princeton.

The program will feature the Westminster Community Chorus and Chamber Choir, conducted by Devin Mariman, performing African-American spirituals, villancicos and other Christmas songs from the United States, Central and South America and the Caribbean.   They will be joined by Martha Davidson, accompanist; Carlos Cuestas, guitar; Drew Andreatta and Jacob Ezzo, percussion; Akiko Hosaki, harpsichord.

Mariman has been conductor of the Westminster Community Chorus since 1998 and founding conductor of the Westminster Community Chamber Choir since 2001 He has conducted major works such as Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, Handel’s Messiah, the Duruflé Requiem, Honegger’s King David, Rachmaninov’s All-Night Vigil and a critically acclaimed performance of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana.  He is also an adjunct assistant professor of voice at Westminster Choir College and chorusmaster for the Westminster Conservatory’s Children’s Opera. Previously, he served as adjunct professor of conducting at Westminster and the College of New Jersey, and as conductor of the Garden State Philharmonic Chorus.

The Westminster Community Chorus is composed of singers from all walks of life who share a love of choral music. Since its inception in 1996 as part of Westminster Conservatory’s choral program, the group has developed a reputation for excellence in the Westminster tradition. The chorus performs a wide variety of accompanied and unaccompanied choral music as well as frequent collaborations with the Westminster Community Orchestra. 

Founded in 2001, the Westminster Chamber Choir complements the Westminster Community Chorus as a select ensemble that performs music especially suited to a smaller choir – motets, madrigals and other works – and frequently features members of the group as soloists. The ensemble has performed a wide variety of music ranging from the Renaissance and Baroque, often with period instruments, to modern including Bach’s Lobet den Herren, Carissimi’s Jephthe and others.

Westminster Choir College of Rider University is at the corner of Hamilton Avenue and Walnut Lane in Princeton. Admission to the concert is $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. For tickets or to receive Westminster’s 2012-2013 season catalog, call the box office at 609-921-2663. For updates, visit Westminster’s Web site at www.rider.edu/arts.