POTSDAM -- More than 300 musicians are set to take to the stage to celebrate the holiday season in song, as SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music hosts the 2010 Crane Candlelight Concert on Sunday, Dec. 5.

The Crane Chorus and Crane Symphony Orchestra will offer two performances at 3 and 7:30 p.m. in Hosmer Concert Hall.

The Crane Chorus, directed by Dr. Jeffrey Francom, consists of more than 200 voice students at the Crane School of Music. The Crane Symphony Orchestra, directed by Professor Kenneth Andrews, is an auditioned group with more than 100 instrumentalists.

Come enjoy holiday classics, such as "Joy to the World" and "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming," as well as classical favorites, including Bach's Christmas Oratorio and Handel's "Hallelujah, Amen." The Crane Symphony Orchestra will also perform excerpts from Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker Suite."

In collaboration with the chorus and orchestra, there are several student and faculty soloists on the program. Professor David Pittman-Jennings is set to sing Mack Wilberg's "Wexford Carol," and students Katherine Beck, Jordan Davidson, Thomas Killourhi and Zachary Lenox will perform as the soloists in Bach's Christmas Oratorio.

The ensembles are thrilled to prepare and perform this work in anticipation of their May 2011 performance of Johann Sebastian Bach's Mass in B-minor with world-renowned German guest conductor Helmuth Rilling.

Light refreshments will be served in the Hosmer Hall Lobby prior to each performance. The public is invited to attend; while both concerts are free, donations to support musical programming at Crane will be accepted at the door.

The 2010 Crane Candlelight Concert will be produced for television by WPBS-TV and can be viewed on public television stations nationwide in December 2011.

You can also view the following past Crane Candlelight Concert performances from the comfort of your couch this holiday season:

"Family Traditions: The Crane Candlelight Concert," taped in 2008, will air at 10 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 6 on WPBS-TV.

"Home & Heart: The Crane Candlelight Concert," taped in 2009, will air at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 22 on WPBS-TV.