News

St. Olaf College is excited to announce that the 2022 St. Olaf Christmas Festival, Promise of Peace, will be performed at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis December 2-3.  

“We are thrilled at the opportunity to bring this tradition to one of the finest musical venues in the country,” says Anton Armstrong ’78, Artistic Director of the St. Olaf Christmas Festival. “We believe it will artistically and musically enhance the experience for students, artistic staff, and audience members alike. We recognize this is a significant change from our campus-based Christmas Festival, and we look forward to serving an even wider community while honoring the musical traditions that remain a central element of the St. Olaf Christmas Festival.”

While there are a number of details and decisions that remain in bringing the St. Olaf Christmas Festival to Orchestra Hall, we are pleased to share there will be three performances:

• Friday, December 2 at 8 p.m.
• Saturday, December 3 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

First held in 1912, the St. Olaf Christmas Festival is one of the oldest musical celebrations of Christmas in the United States. Led by five conductors, it features more than 500 student musicians who are members of the college’s world-renowned choirs and orchestra. 

St. Olaf College has hosted several performances at Orchestra Hall in the recent past. These include the St. Olaf Orchestra concert in 2021, The Path in 2018, and the Christmas Festival performance at the 2017 ACDA National Conference.

Please browse the FAQ for commonly asked questions and preliminary information about ticketing, transportation, potential campus activities, and more. Continue to check the St. Olaf Christmas Festival website for updates as details are solidified for the 2022 Christmas Festival experience at Orchestra Hall.