Featured in The 77th annual production of Feast of Lights
A Boy and his Drum
for SATB & Orchestra
December 6th & 7th @ 7:30p PST
December 8th @ 4p PST
The Memorial Chapel at the University of Redlands


Feast of Lights History
The Feast of Lights is one of the most recognizable and respected of the University's traditions; a service of worship celebrating -- in spoken word, tableaux, song and instrumental offering --the birth of Jesus. Although presentations have differed slightly from year to year, the basic theme has remained constant: the story of the birth of Christ and the symbolic message of the star of Bethlehem.
The Feast of Lights was first conceived in 1942 by Professor J. Williams Jones and first presented at the University of Redlands in 1947 as a production of the School of Music. In 1950, a second performance for the student body was added, and by 1953, The Feast consisted of three performances.
Now in its 77th year Feast of Lights has seen leadership under Directors J. Williams Jones, Jeffrey Rickard and Nicholle Andrews, its fame is nation-wide and much of its music has been recorded.
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"As long as I live I shall anticipate the Feast of Lights at the University of Redlands. This inspired service of worship has been an introduction to the Christmas Season for students, faculty, and friends of the [U of R] for more than 20 years...a tradition that I hope will endure."
-- President George H. Armacost regarding the 1968 Feast of Lights program.
Program Notes
A Boy and His Drum was written for the 77th annual performance of the holiday production known as the Feast of Lights hosted by the University of Redlands Conservatory of Music. In her youth composer Mena Williams' favorite Christmas Carol was the 1958 classic The Little Drummer Boy; thus her decision to create her own rendition of the song for SATB and Orchestra.​
Conductor: Co Boi Nguyen

Articles
During the month of November, Mena was interviewed by the University of Redlands newsletter known as Bulldog bites to talk more about her piece and the process and inspiration behind programming it for the Feast of Lights.
In late November, Mena was contacted by freelance writer Julie Farren to be interviewed for an article about the Feast of Lights for the online newspaper, Community Forward Redlands.