Experience the joys of the holiday season during Stetson’s beloved Christmas Candlelight Concerts on the historic DeLand campus and in Downtown Orlando. Tickets go on sale Oct. 1.

For more than 100 years, the School of Music’s jubilant choirs and musicians have been captivating audiences with its annual, breathtaking performance, which has evolved into an evening dedicated to inclusive, sacred music from various cultural and religious traditions celebrated during the holidays.

The 2024 Christmas Candlelight Concerts will feature more than 150 student musicians in three performances Dec. 4-6 in intimate Lee Chapel on campus. A fourth performance will be held Dec. 7 in Downtown Orlando in the First United Methodist Church of Orlando.

“The 2024 concert celebrates holiday cultures from around the world,” said Timothy Peter, DMA, Stetson’s Artistic Director of Christmas Candlelight and Director of Choral Activities. 

“International choral music from France, Denmark, England, Spain, Peru, China and the Americas will be performed along with many familiar and beloved Christmas Carols,” he added. “This year is one of those concerts not to be missed.”

The performances will showcase the Stetson University Concert Choir, conducted by Peter, and the Hatter Choir and the Stetson Chorale, conducted by Pingyi Song, DMA, Associate Director of Choral Activities. Other performers include instrumentalists from the Chamber Orchestra and Symphonic Band. Boyd Jones, DMA, University Organist and the John E. and Aliese Price Professor of Organ, will be the featured organist.  

Each concert will conclude with “Silent Night” sung by the three choirs as they light candles and close the performance. 

General admission tickets are $40 and go on sale Oct. 1 through the Stetson University School of Music. These holiday performances sell out quickly.

The concerts will take place: Wednesday, Dec. 4, through Friday, Dec. 6, at 7:30 p.m. in Lee Chapel. On Saturday, Dec. 7, the performance will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the First United Methodist Church of Orlando, 142 E. Jackson St. in Downtown Orlando, FL 32801.

“As always, this concert will be one of the highlights of our concert season with singers and instrumentalists on stage and surrounding the audience in ‘sonic sound’ throughout this beautiful evening, celebrating music and community during the Christmas season,” Peter said. “Our Stetson students continue to inspire me and my new choral colleague Dr. Pingyi Song with their passion and joy in making music on Stetson’s campus.”

-Stetson Today