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Christmas Festival broadcast information

By Kari VanDerVeen
December 19, 2012

Members of the Viking Chorus perform during the 2012 St. Olaf Christmas Festival.

Those who missed this year's St. Olaf Christmas Festival — or who simply want to hear it again — can tune in to a national broadcast presented by American Public Media.

The two-hour presentation of the 2012 festival will be distributed to radio stations throughout the country. Check your local listings for days and times.

A recording of this year's festival, The Wondrous Gift is Given, will also be available for order from St. Olaf Records beginning later this week (orders will ship in the new year).

Started in 1912, the St. Olaf Christmas Festival is one of the oldest musical celebrations of Christmas in the United States. It features more than 500 student musicians who are members of five choirs and the St. Olaf Orchestra.

St. Olaf Choir Conductor Anton Armstrong '78, who serves as the artistic director for the festival, tells American Public Media that the annual program is much more than a concert.

"It takes very heartfelt words and beautifully crafted scores and asks each of us to open all of who we are — body, mind, spirit and voice — so that we can take in this message anew," he says.

St. Olaf College's Sing For Joy will produce a half-hour program of music for the Advent and Christmas season, featuring highlights from the 2011 St. Olaf Christmas Festival. Nearly 100 stations around the country will carry this broadcast. Check your local listings for details.

PBS will also air a one-hour Christmas special, Rejoice, Give Thanks, and Sing, as part of this year’s holiday programming. Produced by Twin Cities Public Television, this program features the 2011 St. Olaf Christmas Festival. Check your local PBS listings for telecast dates and times in your area.

Contact Kari VanDerVeen at 507-786-3970 or vanderve@stolaf.edu.