"He Comes To US" was this year's theme for St. Olaf's Christmas Festival. Continuing the tradition of worship through a service of music this year was the 89th Christmas. The first Christmas Festival was planned and directed by F. Melius Christansen. It was originally a worship service for St. Olaf students, faculty and staff.

Planning for this year's festival started this past January, giving the conductors only a few weeks of 'rest' between festivals. To decide on a theme, each director submitted an idea to set designer Judy Swanson.

Ms. Swanson chose the theme "He Comes To Us" from the text of the hymn; 'He Comes To Us As One Unknown'.

"Many of the directors already have ideas for the next year's festival. The ideas are usually taken from a particular text" said Ms. Swanson. After the theme is decided upon the directors then format the rest of the concert around the chosen text.

Preparation for set and graphic design, including programs and tickets started in June with rough sketches. By August all graphics were completed for the tickets and in November she started construction of the set.

"I have three sons, after Halloween they kind of went at it." Said Ms. Swanson. When designing the set she used the text given to her by each director to relate the art to the music.

"I wanted to pick colors that were soft. God comes to us in ways that we don't know. Through him we receive beautiful images, those images are portrayed in the hymn and to be able to relate it to us in incredible. The hymn, 'He comes to us as one unknown' speaks of natureŠso does Joy to the World, hence the emphasis on heaven and nature sing on the set."

"He Comes To Us" included 21 choral pieces and several orchestral numbers, performed by five St. Olaf choral ensembles and the St. Olaf Orchestra. Several numbers were written or arranged by St. Olaf music faculty members.

Those pieces include Soli Gratis written by St. Olaf Orchestra conductor Steven Amundson; "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence," HE Comes To Us," What Child is This," and Christus Paradox," all arranged by Cantorei director John Fergeson; Twelfth Night" which was just written in August, and Nunc dimittis" by Chapel Choir and Viking Chorus director Robert Scholz and the orchestral setting of the processional, "Hail to the Lord's Anointed" was written by conductor of the St. Olaf band, Tim Mahr.

"The festival allows us to look at the meaning of Christmas and helps us to see that God comes to us in various ways," said St. Olaf choir director Anton Armstrong.

There were 450 singers and 93 orchestra members who participated in the performance. Christmas Fest is a collaboration of effort both through volunteers of both students and faculty Approximately 120 students are assigned as ushers and 35 faculty member collect tickets at the door.

This year's Christmas Fest was the first year for the newly changed seating in Skoglund. The school replaced the standard bleachers with stadium seats. Though this is more comfortable for guests, it severely affected the size of the audience. Last year the festival was able to host 3750 people. This year the audience was cut down to 2900. The loss of nearly 800 people a night in reality accumulates to one whole performance.

"The new seating makes a big difference in the fact that we are not able to host everyone who wants to come. With the audience cuts, we are really only able to seat Oles, parents of performers and donors. It is even a struggle to get all the donors seats said music organizations manager B. J. Johnson.

"Through donations, the festivals raises between $90,000 and $100,000 said Director of Stewardship, Jean Callister-Benson, "and we usually break even when it comes to the cost of hosting the festival."

This year was also the first time that the performance was webcast.

"Our overseas students can now listen to it live." said B.J. Johnson.

Though 1997's Christmas Festival is playing on PBS this year, PBS is planning to air next year's festival. The crew is expected to start working with St. Olaf in late February for the broadcast.

Last year it was announced of the possibility of St. Olaf taking the Christmas Fest to Norway. That is no longer a plan. "It just wouldn't work out. The person who was organizing it in Norway changed jobs. Also, to perform in a cathedral is unrealistic. We would only be able to perform for 500 people. Said B.J. Johnson.

Visitors to the school were also able to take part in other Christmas activities. Bon Appetite served traditional Norwegian meals during the Scandinavian 'smorgasbord" meals.

"We are expecting a 1000 guests a night and so we had to hire an extra 180 workers to help." Said Marietta Lamarre- Buck, general manager of Bon Appetit

"Even if they are not attending the concert, people still come foe the food and the Christmas atmosphere," said Stewardship director Jean Callister-Benson.

There were also a variety of Book signs in the bookstore. The bookstore saw an increase of in their sales. "Compared to two years ago we saw an increase of 15%. We can't really compare our sales to last year, because last year was phenomenal. So many people came just to see the new building. Said Bookstore Manager Daniel Bergeson.

The St. Olaf Christmas Festival has been called "one of the 10 Christmas events in the United States not to be missed by the New York Times. The festival was also listed as one of the times' five significant global holiday events.