Love Divine

2021 St. Olaf Christmas Festival

Frequently Asked Questions Read more about attending the St. Olaf Christmas Festival

Attending the Christmas Festival More information on dining, parking, tickets, etc.

Watch the 2021 Christmas Festival On-demand premiere - Wednesday, December 15 at 7 p.m. CT

Live from London - St. Olaf Christmas!

Looking to enjoy St. Olaf even more this holiday season?

We are thrilled to be a part of this year’s Live From London, Christmas 2021, with performances from The King’s Singers, The Crossing, I Fagiolini, Apollo5, Stile Antico, Gabrieli Consort & Players, and solo appearances from Mary Bevan, Tim Mead, Nicholas Mulroy and Dingle Yandell for Handel’s ‘Messiah’ with VOCES8.

It’s going to be a (Christmas) cracker of a festival! Get your tickets from the festival/foundation website here for the entire season, or individual concerts.

Purchase a Season Pass or Individual Concert!

For many people, over several generations, the celebration of the Advent – Christmas – Epiphany season begins with the annual St. Olaf Christmas Festival, a century-old tradition of the college.

1912

begun as a musical program for the college community, planned and directed by F. Melius Christiansen, founder of the St. Olaf Music Department.

12,000

guests will attend the Festival concerts and special events.

500

student musicians will participate as members of the five Choirs and Orchestra.

Play Video St. Olaf Christmas Festival 2021

2021 St. Olaf Christmas Festival - On-Demand

The special on-demand premiere of the 2021 St. Olaf Christmas Festival, Love Divine will take place live on Wednesday, December 15, 2021 at 7 p.m. CT. Following the premiere, Love Divine will be available for on-demand viewing throughout the holiday season. The December 15 broadcast will feature a live chat function for viewers to engage with one another, and will be simultaneously screened on-campus for the Christmas festival musicians, who get to experience their performance for the first time.

We are thrilled to resume this tradition, and have done so with a focus of safety as our top priority. This year also marks the last St. Olaf Christmas Festival for St. Olaf Orchestra Conductor Steven Amundson, who will retire this spring after 40 years at the college. Download the program here.

Watch With Us!

Participating Ensembles

Massed Choirs of St. Olaf College

Each group participates individually and as part of a Massed Ensemble. Anton Armstrong ’78 is Artistic Director of the Festival and Conductor of the St. Olaf Choir. Tesfa Wondemagegnehu is conductor of the Chapel Choir and Viking Chorus. Therees Tkach Hibbard conducts the Manitou Singers. James E. Bobb leads the St. Olaf Cantorei.

The St. Olaf Orchestra, regarded as one of the finest collegiate orchestras in the United States, is conducted by Steven Amundson.

Visual Designer of the Festival is Christie Hawkins. Matthew Marohl is College Pastor and also serves on the artistic team.