The Most Magical Time of the Year: Christmas at Concordia

Photo by Kim Sleeper.

by Dana Simpkin 

The sanctuary of St. John Lutheran Church was filled with the sounds of God’s praises on Dec. 4-6 as thousands of students and their families came together for this year’s annual Christmas at Concordia concert.

The performance featured twenty musical pieces interspersed with six advent scripture readings. The readings served as transitions to allow the choirs and bands to seamlessly move on and off stage between songs. Figures donned in black gowns and sharp suits moved up and down the aisles of the sanctuary, creating an atmosphere which fully immersed the audience in their music.

“I look forward to more years of celebrating the birth of our Savior with the Concordia community,” freshman Brandon Holmes said. Holmes was one of ten freshman to be selected to be a part of the prestigious University A Cappella choir directed by Dr. Kurt von Kampen.

In addition to several songs performed by the A Cappella choir, each of Concordia’s music ensembles participated in the event both alone and in harmony with each other. Over two hundred students altogether are active this semester in the University Handbell Choir, Women’s Chorale, Male Chorus, Brass Ensemble and Symphonic Band, with many students participating in more than one ensemble in the concert.

Sophomore Leah Werling was one such student, dashing between singing in Women’s Chorale and playing clarinet in the Symphonic Band.

“It was a little hectic, but very enjoyable to participate in two groups, each with so much talent,” Werling said.

Several songs featured the directors moving back and forth as well from their conductor’s rostrum to the spotlight themselves. Director Andrew Schultz joined the band to play trumpet for the classic hymn “Go Tell it on the Mountain” while Dr. Jeffrey Blersch played the organ for “A Stable Lamp is Lighted,” a composition prepared by von Kampen.

This arrangement of “A Stable Lamp is Lighted” uses text from a poem by Richard Wilbur titled “Christmas Hymn.” Students may recognize this poem in particular from the front of the steps in the Holthus plaza where it is engraved.

“The faculty are all dedicated to not only making wonderful music but to making everything run as smoothly as possible as well,” fifth-year senior Naomi Ristvedt (Woman’s Chorale, A Cappella, Symphonic Band) said. “The music is spectacular, but even better is the crystal-clear emphasis on praising God for everything we have been given.”

This is Ristvedt’s fourth year performing as a musician in Christmas at Concordia, but for the first time she took on the additional role of student conductor.

“(It) was an amazing experience. I have never been so nervous!” Ristvedt said. “It was an absolute privilege to get to stand on that podium with my amazing professors.”

Several audience members stated that the final piece of the concert, an arrangement of “Joy to the World” prepared by Blersch, was especially moving. All of the choirs, the symphonic band and handbells joined together for a powerful close to the performance.

Blersch, whose published compositions and collections number over 200, directed and composed another piece entitled “O Savior of Our Fallen Race” which invited the audience members to sing with the choirs, as did several other pieces throughout the concert.

“To participate in the praises and worship was really incredible,” audience member Nathan Spaulding, older brother to sophomore A Cappella choir member Daniel Spaulding, said. “They had us sing and engage with the service.”

The audience applauded “enthusiastically and with much gusto” as President Brian Friedrich had encouraged in his opening address, continuing their ovation until all of the performers had exited the sanctuary.

The narthex was a whirlwind of hugs and pats on the back as students were greeted and congratulated by their family members, many of which had traveled hundreds of miles to see the concert.

“It was my first time attending,” Nathan Spaulding said, who traveled from St. Louis just for the event. “But I already can’t wait to go again.”