Choral

The illustrious group of child musicians has been delighting music lovers across the globe for six centuries with their purity of tone, distinctive charm and popular repertoire. Christmas in Vienna showcases these gifted musicians with voices of unforgettable beauty in an extraordinary program featuring Austrian folk songs, classical masterpieces, popular songs and, of course, holiday favorites.

Winter Concert 

The British and Americans met in the Battles of Lexington and Concord 250 years ago, and they will meet again on much friendlier terms in this December’s concerts by the Concord Chorus. Two concerts, at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. on December 14, 2024, will be held in the Middlesex School Memorial Chapel, 1400 Lowell Road in Concord, and feature beautiful music by William Byrd, Henry Purcell, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Harold Darke, John Rutter, Charles Ives, Amy Beach, Katherine K. Davis, Randall Thompson, Virgil Thomson, and Errollyn Wallen. This Concord 250th event will be proof that these beautiful works, by composers from two former adversaries now long allies, are Still Heard Round the World.

For more than a century, the St. Olaf Choir, conducted by Dr. Anton Armstrong, has set the gold standard for choral singing, performing for millions around the world. Composed of 75 mixed voices, the St. Olaf Choir is hailed as one of the nation’s premier a cappella ensembles, renowned for its artistry and beauty of sound.  The St. Olaf Choir was founded in 1912 by F. Melius Christiansen, whose work established the ensemble’s standard of excellence and its tradition of bringing music to audiences outside of campus. Christiansen chose spiritually profound music and pushed student musicians to perfect a tone that was disciplined, controlled, and free of excessive vibrato. That sound — securely in tune, controlled in pitch, smooth in delivery — became the choir’s hallmark. When Armstrong took the helm in 1990, his vast knowledge of music and his ability to articulate a vision to singers and audiences alike took the St. Olaf Choir to the next level, adding more flavor to its signature sound and further expanding its repertoire to include music of the Pacific Rim, Africa, and Latin America. Under Armstrong’s leadership, the choir continues to expand its touring horizons, engaging capacity audiences in major concert halls throughout the United States and worldwide. The ensemble has toured internationally 16 times. Most recently the St. Olaf Choir toured South Africa for three weeks in 2024, performing alongside Tuks Camerata, Quava Vocal Group, and other standout choral ensembles.