November 2nd and 3rd, 2024
All Saints
At the center of this annual All Saints program is Alex Berko’s A Sacred Place, a new piece for choir, soloists, violin, cello, and piano. Works by Johannes Brahms, F. Melius Christiansen, Elaine Hagenberg, and Caroline Shaw connect love and grief through the lens of nature. We examine how faith and music intersect the legacy we leave for generations to come.
December 13th and 14th, 2024
Christmas Festival at the Basilica of Saint Mary
This hallmark National Lutheran Choir Christmas Festival will once again fill the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis with a joyous call to gather for Christmas favorites and selections from around the world. The festival will include the premiere of a new Christmas suite by Taylor Scott Davis, an American composer frequently commissioned by the UK’s VOCES8. This program will also feature works by James MacMillian, Cecilia McDowall, Galina Grigorjeva, Zanaida Robles, and more. Oboe, harp, organ, and brass join NLC as well as Minnesota poet and classical music leader Brian Newhouse who will serve as the festival narrator.
February 1st, 2025
2024 Tuneup
The 2025 Tune-Up offers an inspiring opportunity for singers, music directors, and educators to immerse themselves in the rich traditions of Black sacred music and the music of Black culture under the guidance of renowned experts Dr. André J. Thomas and Dr. Brandon A. Boyd. The morning will feature Tune-Up experiences for both adult singers and youth singers in 7th-12th grade. A free Festival Concert will take place in the afternoon, where the NLC Singers and Tune-Up participants will be joined by the University of Minnesota’s Gospel Choir (Adrian Davis, conductor).
February 28th, March 1st, and March 2nd, 2025
Winter Concert and Tour
Healing: Body, Mind, Spirit will include the premiere of a commissioned work by composer Hans Bridger Heruth and lyricist Brian Newhouse to honor the work of healers. This program will be presented in the beautiful Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas at the University of St. Thomas as well as on the NLC's 2025 Regional Tour, including a unique program for the Mayo Clinic community at the Mayo Clinic Hospital's St. Mary's Chapel.
May 4th, 2025
Spring Concert
Join the NLC for a program that examines the costs of living in a society where gun violence is prevalent and particularly harmful to children and youth in school communities. We explore how to unite our communities to diminish the harm caused by this violence and heal for the future. This program will feature guest artists Cantus, the Concert Choir of St. Michael-Albertville High School (Joseph Osowski, conductor), and members of the Westminster Presbyterian choirs (Amanda Weber, conductor) and will include the world premiere of a commission by composer Melissa Dunphy along with texts and poetry written by high school students.
Additional Events
October 12th, 2024
Oktoberfest with NLC & Beer Choir
Martin Luther himself would surely approve of members of the NLC joining forces with Beer Choir to celebrate Oktoberfest! Don't miss this opportunity to visit a local brewery, sing songs led by Beer Choir's Adam Reinwald and NLC's Jennaya Robison, enjoy a beverage, make new friends, and be moved to support the mission and programs of the NLC. Admission is free and donations are optional. It's an experience that will take you back to the very roots of the Lutheran choral tradition!
April 27th
2025 NLC Annual gala
Celebrate the National Lutheran choir and our invaluable community at the Annual Gala! Come to connect with other NLC followers, hear words from NLC leaders, enjoy a performance by the choir, and show your support for the NLC’s work and mission. With your support, we will be able to continue our legacy in our local community and beyond!