Evensong

Celebrating the holidays through the voices of MMA cadets, MMA's 79th annual Evensong aired on our YouTube channel on Saturday, December 12, 2020 at 6:00 p.m.

The event was prerecorded in Memorial Chapel without an audience due to the Academy’s COVID-19 safety protocols.  

 

About Evensong

Evensong, described as a "Festival of Lessons and Carols," is an Academy tradition that includes live readings and musical performances by cadet musicians and the MMA Choir. See list of participants below.  

The MMA Evensong is a celebration of the Christmas story, similar to the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols held in the King's College Chapel in Cambridge. The festival dates back to the Christmas Eve of 1918, when it was first held in the chapel one month after World War I ended. The service was developed by Eric Milner-White, who was the young, newly appointed dean of King's College at the time. Milner-White had previously served as an army chaplain.  

The Evensong program began at MMA in 1941, less than a month after the Japanese attacked the U.S. at Pearl Harbor, drawing the country into World War II.  Since then, Evensong has traditionally served as a joyful start to the winter furlough.  


 


 

Instrumental Ensemble 

William Delaplane

Peter Didicher

William Dunn

Kruze Hagan

Matthew Hamilton

Michael Henderson

Michael Machary-Pagan

Anthony Melick

Landon Meyer

Victor Patino-Matos

Griffin Roberts

Ian Robison

Kevith Sangster

Evan Schreyer

Angelo Uradenta

Bradford Wright

Chongbo Zhao

Cadet Bagpipe Ensemble

Cadet Pipe Major Clayton Nelson

 Matthew Hamilton

 Christopher Chew

Cadet Choir 

Dhalil Belko

Damien Brown

Kevin Gonzalez

Jancarlo Barajas

Ramel Morgan

Ash Park

Mason Ruckman

Kamden Sipple

Guanhong Song

Ryan Stafford 

Cadet Lessons Readers

Francisco Jacquez

Landy Nguyen

Phasakorn Cunningham

Kevin Gonzalez

Jared Douthit

Bradford Wright

Loyal Smith

Bryce Bowen

Fine Arts Department

Mrs. Cheryl Morris, 
Chair

Mr. Rob McGrath
Director of Bands

Major Mike Shoemaker 
Director of Cadet Chorus

Pipes Major Brian Donaldson
Director of Cadet Bagpipe Ensemble

 Mr. Stephen Maziarz
Accompanist

Mr. Kevin M. Quinn
Chaplain


79th annual Evensong Program

THE PRELUDE

Instrumental Ensemble

Bolero”  M. Ravel arr. J. Vinson

 “Coventry Carol”  Traditional

WELCOME

Chaplain Kevin Quinn

BIDDING PRAYER

Chaplain Kevin Quinn

THE FIRST LESSON

 God tells the sinful Adam that he has lost the life of Paradise and that his seed will bruise the serpent’s head.

Reader: Cadet Francisco Jacquez

“Of the Father’s Love Begotten”  Cadet Choir

THE SECOND LESSON

 God promises to faithful Abraham that in his seed shall all the nations on earth be blessed.

Reader: Cadet Landy Nguyen

“Waiting for a King”  Cadet Choir

Cadet Bagpipe Ensemble

“O’ Come, All Ye Faithful”

“We Three Kings”

“Angels We Have Heard on High” 

THE THIRD LESSON

            The prophet foretells the coming of the Savior; The peace that Christ will bring is foreshown.

Reader: Cadet Phasakorn Cunningham

“Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming”  Cadet Choir

 THE FOURTH LESSON

 The angel Gabriel salutes the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Reader: Cadet Kevin Gonzalez

“Allegro from Divertimento IV”  W. A. Mozart

Cadet Clarinet Trio

Michael Machary-Pagan, Victor Patino-Matos and Evan Schreyer

THE FIFTH LESSON

St. Luke tells of the birth of Jesus

Reader: Cadet Jared Douthit

“Infant Holy”  Cadet Choir

 THE SIXTH LESSON

The shepherds go to the Manger.

Reader: Cadet Bradford Wright

Cadet Bagpipe Ensemble

“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”

“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”

“Once in David’s Royal City”

 THE SEVENTH LESSON

The wise men are led by the star to Jesus.

Reader: Cadet Loyal Smith

“We Three Kings”

 Cadets Kevin Gonzalez, Kamden Sipple and Ryan Stafford

THE EIGHTH LESSON

 St. John unfolds the great mystery of the Incarnation.

Reader: Cadet Bryce Bowen

“O Holy Night” Cadets Dhalil Belko and Kevin Gonzalez

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

BG Richard V. Geraci (USA Ret.)

A CHRISTMAS BENEDICTION

Chaplain Kevin Quinn

POSTLUDE

Instrumental Ensemble

“All Through the Silent Night”  M. Williams

“Joy to the World”  G. Handel

Military academy cadet holiday choir

Please note that ample distance will be given between cadets during performances. The camera and depth of the field are deceptive and may make it appear that cadets are closer together than they actually were during filming. 

If you have questions or would like to discuss how you can support MMA cadets, contact Director of Alumni & Parent Engagement Cassandra Brooks at cassandra.brooks@missourimilitaryacademy.com.