Christmas concert returns to renovated Orchestra Hall

Orchestra Hall renovations
Orchestra Hall renovations are visible on the building’s exterior and through the glass windows to the updated lobby. St. Thomas’ Christmas Concert will return to the venue after it was held last year at the Minneapolis Convention Center during the $50 million construction. (Johnnay Lehnnay/TommieMedia)

The 26th annual St. Thomas Christmas concert will return to Minneapolis’ Orchestra Hall on Dec. 8, after the venue’s $50 million renovation concluded this month.

The choir concert has typically been held in Orchestra Hall, but last year’s performance was moved to the Minneapolis Convention Center while Orchestra Hall underwent a lobby expansion and dramatic changes to its exterior.

Music department chair Matthew George said he is happy with the hall’s renovations, but also said St. Thomas should have a music venue of its own.

“It’s a good venue in town; we are happy we are able to use it,” George said. “It accommodates our needs for the Christmas concert, and ultimately, we would like to have accommodations that fit all of our needs on campus.”

Accommodations that more adequately support the performers, he said.

“Our laboratory is a concert hall and rehearsal rooms,” George said. “We don’t have anything that was designed for music (at St. Thomas). We do remarkably well despite our conditions.”

St. Thomas will rent the venue for 24 hours and maximize the time spent in the hall. After the ensembles finish rehearsal in the morning, 1,000 donors are invited to afternoon tea as President Julie Sullivan’s expression of thanks.

After the 7:30 p.m. show, titled “All Is Well,” concert alumni will have a social gathering to reconnect.

Alumni Relations manager Nadine Friederichs, who co-produces the concert, said returning to Orchestra Hall makes planning these sort of events easier because alumni and donors can park once and stay for both the social gatherings and the Christmas concert.

The ticket prices for the general public will be $15 and go on sale Tuesday. Student tickets are $5, and will be available through Tommie Central in November. Student tickets will be limited to the first 200 undergraduate students.

Freshman Marissa Larson said she is excited to perform at Orchestra Hall after the renovations.

“I’m really excited. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun, and the Christmas concert is going to be on an even bigger scale,” Larson said.

Senior Michael Ferguson said he shares some of George’s concerns about the lack of on-campus performance space, but is looking forward to the venue change.

“It’s kind of sad that we don’t have a hall that’s quite as nice as Orchestra Hall, but it doesn’t really bother me too much because it is a professional hall,” Ferguson said. “I don’t mind traveling a few minutes away to play at such a great place.”

Junior Caroline Stiles said she grew up attending the St. Thomas Christmas concert. Stiles said she is excited for the show to be back to where it “belongs.”

“I always thought (the Christmas concert) was a really beautiful experience. Last year it was beautiful as well, but it would be good to have it back to its roots and where it began,” Stiles said. “Orchestra Hall is a really beautiful place, and I can’t wait to see it again.”

Johnnay Leenay can be reached at leen1980@stthomas.edu.