The ambience was so accommodating and welcoming to assure patrons of a good evening soaked with a variety or an assortment of carols.
The stage designers and organisers worked on the colours to blend with one another as well as interlaced them with a combination of lighting systems to provide a therapeutic effect to the auditorium.
For close to two hours, the lights sparkled in radiant colours, as the voices accompanied by instrumentation billowed to relive the birth of Christ Jesus in a glorious atmosphere.
The organisers in their choice of performers had selected choirs and individuals who through their delivery would arrest a non- music lover to be converted into a devoted and devoured one instantaneously.
The much-awaited University of Cape Coast (UCC) Carols Service kicked –off with a congregational opening Carol “O come all ye faithful” after which came the opening prayer by Rev. Isaac Baafi Sarbeng.
Setting the stage for a scintillating evening of Nine lessons and Carols, the Voices of Accountability showed why they are the originators of the programme by rendering two beautiful songs.
Then came the bible readings, with the Provost of College of Health and Allied Sciences, Rev. Prof. H. S. Amonoo-Kuofi, taking his reading from Genesis 3: 8-19,whilst the Dean of the Centre for International Education, Prof. Rosemond Boohene, read the second lesson from Genesis 22: 15-18. The third reading from Isaiah 9: 2, -7, was read by the Provost College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, Prof. Livingstone Sam-Amoah and the fourth reading was done by the Dean of the Faculty of Educational Foundations, Prof. Eric Nyarko-Sampson. The Director of Finance, Mrs. Elizabeth Obese did the 5th reading.
Another congregational hymn, the First Noel was sung to usher in the last bit of the readings with Registrar of the College of Distance Education, CoDE, Mr. Opoku Oku-Afari, reading Luke 2:1; 3-7, followed by the Director of University Health Services, Dr. Evans Ekenam, taking the 7th lesson from Luke 2: 8-16. The Chairman of Convocation, Prof. Peter Grant, read the 8th lesson from Matthew 2: 1-12 ,while the Registrar, Mr. John Kofi Nyan concluding the readings with the 9th lesson from John 1: 1-14.
Performing choirs and individual singers treated their audience with songs that will remain imprinted in the their minds for a long time.
Kofi Ansah and his Passionate Choir from the Department of Music would not be intimidated by sheer numbers by dishing out a barrage of carols both local and foreign renditions with passion and poise.
The Pax Choir would not be cowed either as they acquitted themselves creditably to the admiration of patrons. Their choice of songs was apt and flowed into each other such that the audience marveled at their style.
Young and Silky-voice Sandra Kuntu-Blankson, a National Service person at the Department of Music and Dance, as usual kept the audience hostage with her delivery of carols couched in both English and Latin. No wonder in the end the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George K.T Oduro, could not help but recommended, “The Department should not let Sandra and Addaquaye go”.
Alfred Patrick Addaquaye and his partner crowned the show with the “Icing on the cake” performance as he held those who knew and did not know him before yesterday in awe of his dexterity both on the microphone and the keyboard.
“This year has been a busy year, all of you have shown dedication to work. Each and every one of you is important’, Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah said in a remark.
Prof. Ampiah urged both staff and students to work hard to make the University a better place in the ensuing year. “Please let’s give our best to the University in 2017’.
It is no doubt that even though patrons remained largely in their seats throughout the entire evening, they went away elated with memories that will linger for a long time to come. The event was worth every cedi, time and energy expended to have it.