2008 Holiday Concert Schedule
Join in the holiday festivities on our campuses that are open to the public. Many are very popular, so be sure to check for ticket availability.
Augsburg College, Minneapolis
Advent Vespers Celebration, Dec. 5-6, 5 and 8 p.m., Central Lutheran Church, free (request seating envelopes).
Advent Vespers celebrates the beginning of the Christmas season with traditional and contemporary hymns, anthems, and carols. It combines over 300 participants; choirs, instrumentalists, readers, and a full liturgical party. The drama of the processions and splendor of the sounds from the massed choirs scattered throughout the sanctuary highlight the majesty of the church.
Bethany Lutheran College, Mankato
Christmas at Bethany Concert, Dec. 4-7, 4 p.m., Trinity Chapel, free.
The Bethany Concert Choir, Handbell Choir, Mary Martha Singers, Concert Band, and various instrumentalists all participate in this sacred concert of music for the Christmas season.
Bethel University, St. Paul
Night of Wonder: Christmas Through the Eyes of a Child, Dec. 4-5, 8 p.m.; Dec. 6, 2 and 8 p.m., Benson Great Hall, $18 and $15.
Celebrate the Christmas season with Bethel University as the Department of Music presents the 52nd Festival of Christmas! Join in worshiping around His cradle in song, celebrating this "Night of Wonder" through the eyes of a child.
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University, Collegeville and Minneapolis
In Collegeville: Christmas at Saint John's, Dec. 5 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 6 at 2 p.m., Great Hall, $12 and $8.
In Minneapolis: Celebrating the Season , Dec. 6 at 8 p.m., Basilica of Saint Mary, $15 and $10 Performing groups include the Amadeus Chamber Symphony, CSB/SJU Brass Choir, CSB Campus Singers, CSB/SJU Chamber Choir, St. John’s Boys’ Choir and the SJU Men’s Chorus.
College of St. Catherine, St. Paul
Candlelight Christmas Concert: Women’s Choir and String Orchestra, Dec. 6, 8 p.m., Our Lady of Victory Chapel, free.
Joined by the college’s string orchestra, the Women’s Choir presents their annual evening of music for Advent and Christmas.
College of St. Scholastica, Duluth
St. Scholastica Christmas Concert, Dec. 9, 7 p.m., Mitchell Auditorium, free.
Advent Vespers ceremony and Lighting a Tradition candlelight ceremony, Dec. 2, 4:30 p.m. Our Lady Queen of Peace chapel, free Sacred music and singing by students and faculty followed by the candlelight ceremony on the front steps of Tower Hall at 5:15 p.m. that includes the singing of carols by our students.
Handel's "Messiah" Sing-along, Dec. 16, 7:30 p.m., Mitchell Auditorium, free
Includes singing and instrumental playing by students and faculty.
Concordia College, Moorhead and Minneapolis
Savior of the Nations – Come
In Moorhead: Dec. 5, 8 p.m., Dec. 6, 3 and 8 p.m., Dec. 7, 3 p.m., Memorial Auditorium, $12.
In Minneapolis: Dec. 11, 6:30 and 9 p.m., Orchestra Hall, $16-24.
The concert will feature music from around the world and illuminate Christ's message of hope. Join more than 400 student musicians in five choirs and symphony orchestra, under the artistic direction of world-renowned composer and conductor Dr. René Clausen, in this rich tradition of celebrating the Christmas season.
Concordia University, St. Paul
It Came a Flow’ret Bright, Dec.5 and 6, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 7, 3 p.m.; Buetow Music Center Auditorium, $12 and $10.
The performing groups are the St. Paul Christus Chorus, Jubilate Choir, Handbell Ensemble, Organists, and Festival Orchestra. Featured massed choir pieces include movements from Bach’s Cantata 62, Alexander’s “Blessed be the Flower that Triumphs”, Honegger’s “King David,” and Manz’s “E’en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come.”
Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter
Christmas in Christ Chapel 2008: Joyeux Noël, Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m., Dec. 6-7, 3:30 and 7:30 p.m., $17.50 (some performances are sold out).
Gather and celebrate the birth of Christ through music and visual art. Approximately 350 students, faculty, and staff bring this program to life each year, sharing music, dances, spoken word, and prayer with the Gustavus community.
Hamline University, St. Paul
A Cappella Choir Christmas Concert, Dec. 7, 4 p.m., Hamline United Methodist Church, freewill offering.
The Choir will be joined in the Christmas Concert by the Hamline Cello Ensemble and Professor Yali You, and organist Helen Jensen. President Linda Hanson will provide the Reflection.
Women's Chorale & Winds Holiday Concert, Dec. 6, 1:30 p.m., Sundin Music Hall, free, 651-523-2296.
Hamline Winds will feature a Midwest premiere of The Francis Hopkinson Suite by guest composer and conductor, Edward Marcus. The University Women's Chorale will perform seasonal music by American composers Vincent Persichetti and Peter Matthews, as well as a lively spiritual by Rollo Dilworth.
Orchestra Holiday Concert, Dec. 6, 4 p.m., Sundlin Music Hall, free.
The concert will be conducted by Yali You with guest pianist Cheng Chen, winner of the Schubert Club 2008 Competition and Lipa Slovak Folk Dancers in traditional Slovakian costume.
Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo Winter Concert, Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m., Anne Simley Theatre, 651-523-2459
Macalester College, St. Paul
African Music Ensemble, Dec. 6, 8 p.m., Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center Concert Hall, free, (651) 696-6808.
A night of African music with Xylophones, flutes, drumming, singing and dancing.
Saint John’s University and College of Saint Benedict, Collegeville and Minneapolis
In Collegeville: Christmas at Saint John's, Dec. 5 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 6 at 2 p.m., Great Hall, $12 and $8.
In Minneapolis: Celebrating the Season , Dec. 6 at 8 p.m., Basilica of Saint Mary, $15 and $10.
Performing groups include the Amadeus Chamber Symphony, CSB/SJU Brass Choir, CSB Campus Singers, CSB/SJU Chamber Choir, St. John’s Boys’ Choir and the SJU Men’s Chorus.
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, Winona
Lessons and Carols, Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m., Chapel of Saint Mary’s of the Angels (on the Saint Teresa campus), $10, $5.
The Saint Mary’s University Concert Choir, Chamber Singers and Women’s Choir will present a celebration of Advent and the Nativity through sung and spoken word.
Concert Band and Wind Ensemble, Dec. 7 at 3 p.m., Page Theatre (SMU Performance Center), $10, $5.
St. Olaf College, Northfield
2008 Christmas Festival: My Spirit Sings of Wondrous Things
Tickets have sold out but the festival will be broadcast on public radio Dec. 7 at 3:30 p.m. and Dec. 25 at 8 p.m. Or, listen online via MPR's streaming service (click on "listen" under the classical heading in the upper right corner of the page). See broadcast information.
A service of hymns, carols, choral works and orchestral selections that celebrate the birth of Christ. Participating choral ensembles include the St.Olaf Choir, the Viking Chorus and the Chapel Choir, the Cantorei and the ManitouSingers.
Christmas at St. Olaf: Where Peace and Love and Hope Abide, a one-hour presentation of the 2007 St. Olaf Christmas Festival, will air locally on PBS on Dec. 24 at 9 p.m. and Dec. 25 at 3 a.m. and 11 a.m. Check local PBS listings for telecast dates and times in other areas.
A St. Olaf Christmas in Norway, a program featuring the St. Olaf Choir with the Nidaros Cathedral Girls Choir and soloist Randi Stene in the magnificent Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway, will air on TPT Dec. 24 at 10 p.m. and Dec. 25 at 4 a.m. Check local PBS listings for telecast dates and times in other areas.
University of St. Thomas, St. Paul
Cantus Holiday Concert
Dec 13, 7:30 p.m., Chapel of St Thomas Aquinas, free.
Hodie Christus Natus Est, Dec. 7, 4 and 7:30 p.m., Orchestra Hall, $15 (Performances will be broadcast during Christmas week on local and national public television stations.)
The concert will feature seven of the Department of Music's vocal and instrumental ensembles, which will present choral and instrumental music for Advent and Christmas. Ensembles performing are the Chamber Singers, Concert Choir, Liturgical Choir, Women's Choir, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Brass Choir and Handbell Choir.