Sweet Briar College will mark the holiday season with its annual Christmas Vespers at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4 in Memorial Chapel. The service of lessons and carols, performed by the Sweet Briar Concert Choir with Dennis Gilbar directing, is free and open to the public.

Gilbar is director of choral activities for Amherst County High School and is serving as the interim director of SBC’s all-women Concert Choir. He is an adjunct music instructor at the College, and also directs the Performing Arts Extend program at Amherst High School.

Sweet Briar’s Vespers follows the tradition of alternating Christmas carols with scripture readings relating to the birth of Christ and the prophecies of his birth.

“We will be doing several sacred holiday pieces along with Christmas hymns, such as ‘In the Bleak Midwinter,’ ‘King Jesus Hath a Garden’ and ‘What Child,’ ” Gilbar said.

Solo performances will include soprano Heidi Trude ’07 and flutist Colleen Karaffa ’07.

A chocolate party at Sweet Briar House will follow the hour-long program. For more information, please contact Nick Ross, SBC assistant professor of music, at (434) 381-6121.