School of Music groups bring ‘A Liberty Christmas’ to Washington, D.C.

Two Liberty University School of Music ensemble vocal groups, LU Praise and Shine, assembled in Washington, D.C., on Saturday for “A Liberty Christmas” at the Museum of the Bible’s World Stage Theater.

The evening showcased a wide array of Christmas classics, such as “Glory to God,” “I Heard the Bells,” “O Holy Night,” “The Night That Christ Was Born,” “Carol of the Bells,” and “Noel.” It also featured a time of spontaneous worship led by LU Praise before the night concluded with a prayer for the nation and the singing of the worship song “I Speak Jesus.”

“Saturday was an awesome opportunity for Liberty to partner with the Museum of the Bible during this Christmas season to put on a Christmas show,” Director of LU Praise Patrick Shorts said. “It was really cool to take a piece of Christmas up to the Museum of the Bible.”

Shorts said they ended with a time of prayer for families, service members on active duty, and the less fortunate.

“It was really a sweet moment to do that.”

LU Praise is a gospel choir that uses ethnic and musical diversity to lead worship through song, testimony, service, and sharing the Word of God. Shine is an a cappella team with unique and fresh vocal arrangements that utilizes Christian music, old and new, to present the Gospel. Both groups travel across the country each semester and perform regularly on Liberty’s campus.

Shorts said it was exciting to show the nation’s capital a taste of what Liberty’s campus culture consistently offers its students.

“This is what we do on a normal basis,” he said. “I don’t think we really had to change our identity to try and fit into that venue and space. We were able to be ourselves.”

Shine is led and directed by School of Music Dean Dr. Stephen Müller and assisted by graduate assistant Ryan Flug.

“It was neat to see two of our groups come together to put on this concert,” Flug said. “For the people that attended and for the students, it was a wonderful experience.”

The two groups led worship at McLean Bible Church on Sunday morning before returning to Lynchburg Sunday night.

“I’m so proud of our students and the way they represented themselves and Liberty University on this trip,” Müller said. “It was a great testimony of wonderful music and the redeeming Gospel message.”