Love Divine, that was the theme of this year’s St. Olaf Christmas Festival.
After cancelling the festival last year during the pandemic, the Christmas Festival was back this season, strong and beautiful. It felt like a worship service, with praise songs, Christmas music and scripture readings, all focusing on God’s love, and the birth of Jesus.
The participants and concert goers were carefully monitored. Everyone was masked…even the performers who were singing! Every ticket holder had to show proof of COVID vaccination before entering the building. The students and conductors all had multiple COVID tests planned throughout the days leading up to the festival, and during the performance dates.
It felt wonderful to be back, sitting in Skoglund Auditorium (transformed from a gym every year) and listening to magnificent music, performed with energy and dedication, by the St. Olaf students. What a blessing!
Even through masks, the singing was glorious. However, the St. Olaf Choir director, Anton Armstrong, tested positive for COVID a few days before the first performance, so he was unable to attend the Festival. That must have been hard for him.
The St. Olaf orchestra does an astounding job under the leadership of Steven Amundson. The orchestra sounds like professional musicians. I loved the compositions played in the festival. Steven Amundson has been the orchestra conductor at St. Olaf for 40 years, and this is his last Christmas Festival. He is retiring at the end of the academic year. He is loved by the students and will be missed by many.
Although Anton Armstrong always conducts the final piece at the festival, because he was not in attendance Steven Amundson was able to step in for Anton and direct the signature ending piece, Beautiful Savior. What a marvelous, and meaningful, way for Steven to end his last Christmas Festival at St. Olaf College.
Oh, how I miss those beautiful concerts and this one sounds exceptionally wonderful. Do you know if it will broadcast on the radio again? Sorry to hear that Anton Armstrong had Covid!
I do not know if it will be broadcast this year but you could check the St. Olaf webpage to see if they might have it available.
It’s a wonderful event and I’m so glad we were able to attend it in person.
Sounds amazing and spiritual all at the same time, Valerie. We have always loved the performances we’ve gone to through the years. I think of you and all of your years of service to this beautiful event in Northfield.
Thank you Mary Jo. It felt so good to be back there, and see a few friends too. 😉
How wonderful that you got tickets to this coveted concert. I really appreciate that COVID safety measures were taken. Thank you for sharing your joy in hearing these students sing of Christmas joy.
I was grateful for the restrictions they put in place for attending the festival.
I felt very safe in the auditorium.
It was very joyful!