A Medieval Candlelight Christmas If you go

An award- winning a cappella trio from Washington, D.C., will present a concert of medieval Christmas music Tuesday night, Dec. 13, in the next concert of the St. Paul’s Artist Series at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

Eya (pronounced Eh- yah) is the trio of Crossley Hawn, Kristen Dubenion-Smith and Allison Mondel. Eya is a Latin exclamation of joy. The trio won the 2013 Greater D.C. Choral Excellence Award for Best Specialty Group: Early Music.

Their c oncert on Tuesday, “Natus Est Rex” ( Latin for “A King Is Born”), explores the wonder and joy of the Nativity in music from the 11th through 15th centuries. Their songs will range from the work of Benedictine abbess Hildegard von Bingen to early English manuscripts — all performed in a setting of soft candlelight as they would have been at the time they were written.

“’Natus est rex! A King is born!’ This exclamation illustrates what exuberant joy the feast of the Nativity was to the medieval world,” says Mondel, who also directs the trio.

“A vast array of monastic and secular communities throughout Europe were anticipating and celebrating this time of year, just as we do now. This was a time of sacred rejoicing, bending hearts toward the Virgin Mother, her Son, and God the Father through exquisitely crafted music and poetry. Eya is pleased to channel this devotional feeling, as we settle into the quietude of deep winter and prepare ourselves for all that is to come.”

This is the church’s second attempt to book the trio for its cultural arts series, says Keith › › › Where: › Admission: › Phone: Reas, choral the church.

“Crossley Hawn was my student when I directed the women’s chorus at Catholic University,” he says. “When they started this group, I saw she was in it, so I’ve been following them and their success for a few years.”

Reas says he has heard the trio on recordings, and “I think they are great. They have a beautiful, ethereal sound and really interesting repertoire.” director of

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY ANTHONY THOMPSON Members of Eya are, from left, soprano Crossley Hawn, mezzo-soprano Kristen Dubenion-Smith and soprano Allison Mondel.