Five choirs, brass quintet and organ bring the joy of the holiday season to life with carols, hymns and spoken word that epitomize hope and goodwill. Program highlights include Benjamin Britten's Chorale After an Old French Carol, Levente Gyöngyösi's Gloria Kajoniesis with guest violinists James Stern and Myles Mocarski and an arrangement by S. Hatfield of Un flambeau, Jeannette, Isabelle, which originated from the Provence region of France in the 17th century. Then sing along to the beloved David Willcocks carols. 

Throughout the history of classical music, women have struggled to find their voice as performers, conductors and particularly composers. Many women composers are best known for their associations with their husbands or brothers such as Clara Schumann, Fanny Mendelssohn and Alma Mahler. Today, we are far closer to reaching gender equity with prolific composers like Jennifer Higdon, Joan Tower, Missy Mazzoli, Libby Larsen, Julia Wolfe, Unsuk Chin and so many more. Still, major American orchestras feature music by women in at most 10% of their seasons and as little as literally none.

This annual winter concert presented by the School of Music’s student directed a cappella ensembles is always a special evening of music heightened by the beautiful acoustics of the Memorial Chapel.