Editor's note: On-demand audio for this program is expected to be added Dec. 8.
The St. Olaf Christmas Festival has become one of the nation's most cherished holiday celebrations. This year's presentation, “O Morning Star, O Radiant Love,” features more than 500 student musicians in three performances at the Northfield college, including a livestream of one of them that you can watch here at 2:45 p.m. central Sunday, Dec. 7.
Started in 1912 by F. Melius Christiansen, founder of the St. Olaf College Music Department, the festival includes hymns, carols, choral works and orchestral selections celebrating the Nativity. It will feature the St. Olaf Choir, the St. Olaf Orchestra, the St. Olaf Cantorei, the St. Olaf Chapel Choir, the Manitou Singers and the Viking Chorus, performing as individual groups and as a massed ensemble.
Livestream
Playlist and program
To follow along with the Dec. 7 livestream, here’s the official program booklet for this year's presentation, “O Morning Star, O Radiant Love” — as well as detailed information about the music as part of St. Olaf’s student-led Program Notes Project.
2025 St. Olaf Christmas Festival - Official Program
2025 St. Olaf Christmas Festival - Student-led Program Notes Project
Program
St. Olaf Choir — Anton Armstrong, conductor
St. Olaf Orchestra — Chung Park, conductor
St. Olaf Cantorei — James E. Bobb, conductor
Manitou Singers — Therees Tkach Hibbard, conductor
St. Olaf Chapel Choir — Joseph Kemper, conductor
Viking Chorus — Joseph Kemper, conductor
STEVE DANYEW In the Still Early Light
MICHAEL PRAETORIUS (ED. JAMES E. BOBB) O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright
NARRATION BY MATTHEW MAROHL
FRENCH PROCESSIONAL (ARR. JOHN FERGUSON) O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
FELIX MENDELSSOHN There Shall a Star (Christus)
OLAF C. CHRISTIANSEN Light Everlasting
JOSEPH KEMPER II North Star
CARY RATCLIFF Let Every Heart
SIR C. HUBERT H. PARRY (SETTING BY JOHN FERGUSON) He Comes to Us as One Unknown
GOSPEL READING BY MATTHEW MAROHL AND KATHERINE FICK
HENRY T. SMART (ARR. CHARLES FORSBERG) Angels, from the Realms of Glory
PIAE CANTIONES (ARR. MICHAEL ENGELHARDT) Gaudete! (Rejoice!)
JUAN GARCIA DE ZÉSPEDES (ARR. EUGENE ROGERS) Convidando Está la Noche (The Night Is an Invitation)
HERBERT HOWELLS A Spotless Rose
ARIEL RAMIREZ (ARR. PADRE JESUS GABRIEL SEGADE) Gloria (Misa Criolla)
ELAINE HAGENBERG Splendor (Illuminare)
STEVEN AMUNDSON Glories Ring
ORIENTIS PARTIBUS, 12TH-CENTURY FRENCH MELODY (ARR. ROBERT V. SCHOLZ) The Friendly Beasts
RICHARD S. WILLIS (ARR. CHARLES FORSBERG) It Came upon the Midnight Clear
PHILIPP NICOLAI (ARR. F. MELIUS CHRISTIANSEN) Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying
NARRATION BY KATHERINE FICK
ARTHUR HONEGGER And God Said: One Day Shall Dawn (King David)
FELIX MENDELSSOHN BARTHOLDY (ARR. JOHN FERGUSON) Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
NARRATION BY MATTHEW MAROHL
CHRISTOPHER ASPAAS Song of Simeon
SILESIAN FOLK TUNE (ARR. F. MELIUS CHRISTIANSEN) Beautiful Savior
Sponsors
Radio broadcasts of the St. Olaf Christmas Festival are made possible as a gift to the community by Tad and Cindy Piper.
And by
Video is produced through the generosity and support of St. Olaf's sponsors:
David and Cynthia Hill
The Mark and Laura Johnson Family
The Tomson Family Foundation
Greg and Lisa Nave Buck
Paul and Margot Grangaard
Tim and Jan Maudlin with gratitude for the Lutheran Center for Faith, Values and Community
The Jon and Jennifer Salveson family
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