National Lutheran Choir – Minneapolis/St. Paul | celebrating the art and culture of sacred choral music

With these final concerts of the 25th Anniversary season we connect the past to our future.  We pay homage to sacred choral music old and new: from the 16th century works of Josquin des Prez, to 18th century music of Johann Sebastian Bach, to 20th century American compositions from the Midwest college tradition.  Two world premieres commissioned by the National Lutheran Choir include a complete performance of Dan Kallman and Herb Brokering's Behold the All, by Singing, and the winner of the National Lutheran Choir's 25th Anniversary Choral Composition competition.  We conclude this anniversary season by re-membering that sacred choral music is a living tradition, solidly rooted in the past, ever-changing, ever-alive and moving toward the future.

A pre-concert panel discussion with the composers and new choral music champion, Dale Warland, will take place 45 minutes prior to each performance.

A great many of the National Lutheran Choir's singers are products of the strong musical traditions embedded in the Midwest's Lutheran colleges.  To mark the 25th Anniversary, we invite a cohort of our singers' mentors to conduct the ensemble.  Guest conductors Anton Armstrong (St. Olaf), Craig Arnold, Gregory Aune (Gustavus Adolphus), Rene Clausen (Concordia-Morrhead), Peter Hendrickson (Augsburg), James Johnson (Augustana), and David Mennicke (Concordia-St. Paul) each take their turn at the podium, leading the National Lutheran Choir in works they have chosen especially for the choir.  Don't miss this wonderful event celebrating mentors, milestones, and music.  A reception follows the joyful singing!

Surrounded by the sacred ambience of the Baslica of Saint Mary, let the soul stirring music performed fill your heart with joy.  Through its music and thematic flow, the Christmas Festival seeks to answer the challenging and ageless question, "What does the birth of Christ mean to us today?"  Well-loved carols sung by all,, readings, choral music both familiar and new, sung from all corners of the space, weave together to form an experience that deepens the meaning of Emmanuel: God With Us.  For this year's festival, the National Lutheran Choir will present the world premiere of Angelus ad Virginem, a new commissioned work by award-winning Minnesota composer, Carol Barnett.  Order your tickets early to bring family and friends.