Christiansen Hall of Music

The Christiansen Hall of Music is home to the Music Department and a second home to students who choose to major in music or complete the Bachelor of Music program. In an average year, 1100 students participate in musical organizations, however, only about 300 of these are music majors. St. Olaf has great opportunities for those who love singing or playing their instruments but want to major in something else, and great opportunities for those who don't play and just like to listen to good music.

F. Melius Christiansen started the music program at St. Olaf and is credited with starting a capella choral music in America. He also started the longest consecutively running worship service in the country: the St. Olaf Christmas Festival, mentioned in the New York Times as one of the "Top Ten Must Dos" during the Christmas season. Five of the choirs (St. Olaf Choir, St. Olaf Cantorei, Chapel Choir, Manitou Singers, and the Viking Chorus) and the St. Olaf Orchestra participate in a four-day festival of music. The show is broadcast throughout Minnesota on public radio and videotaped every four years for nationwide viewing on PBS.

Christiansen is also home to the Halvorson Music Library.