A happy and appreciative crowd gathered Saturday evening at Living Art Studios in Lamoni Iowa for a holiday concert with Francis Acland and Rose Waldeier. New studio lighting was unveiled at this concert, which added a nice festive holiday touch to the studio space.

Catharine Craig Doty, the creative force behind Living Art Studios, welcomed everybody to the concert and talked about the new studio offerings. In addition to dance, yoga, and martial arts, the studio will have musical events like this evening’s concert (and an upcoming concert with Chad Elliott January 10, 2020). There will also be new community educational offerings. Recent examples are the new guitar class and the portrait photography master class.

Catharine then introduced the performers for the evening’s concert. Long time denizens of Lamoni will recognize Francis Acland as our librarian. Rose Waldeier is his daughter.

They did a selection of classic Christmas carols, beginning with O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. Other selections included Good Christian Men Rejoice, The Sussex Carol, In the Bleak Mid-Winter, Greensleeves, and The St. Days Carol.

The evening’s special surprise was Songs from the Gospel of Luke, four original Christmas carols by Francis Acland. Each one was based on scriptures from Luke, chapters one and two. They are Gabriel and Mary. Joseph is Taxed in Bethlehem. Jesus is Born. Return to Galilee.

The final carol of the evening was Angels We Have Heard On High with an audience sing along.

Everyone had a good time, right down to the youngest and newest patrons of the musical arts.

After the concert refreshments were served. There was plenty of time for everyone to visit.