Experience the joy and magic of the holiday season with Stetson University’s beloved Christmas Candlelight Concerts Dec. 3 – 6 on the DeLand campus and in Downtown Orlando. Tickets go on sale Oct. 1.

The School of Music’s holiday concerts have captivated audiences for more than 100 years. These breathtaking performances feature nearly 200 student musicians and continue a tradition of highlighting inclusive, sacred music from cultural and religious traditions celebrated during the holidays.

Three performances will be held Dec. 3 – 5 in intimate Lee Chapel on the DeLand campus. A fourth performance will take place Dec. 6 in Downtown Orlando in the First United Methodist Church of Orlando. 

“As we are continuing our cherished tradition, the 2025 Stetson University Christmas Candlelight Concerts will feature talented student instrumentalists and vocalists majoring and minoring in music as well as students from disciplines across campus. This student-centered event is always mission driven, focusing on the hopeful message of the holiday season,” said Timothy Peter, DMA, Director of Choral Activities at Stetson and Artistic Director of Christmas Candlelight. 

“The theme of ‘light’ is an opportunity for all of us as performers and audience members—singing together, expressing our hope for light in the world as we move forward together. I often hear from so many people that this event really begins their holiday season,” he added.

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 Boyd Jones, DMA, University Organist and the John E. and Aliese Price Professor of Organ.

Each concert concludes with combined ensembles performing “Silent Night” by candlelight as they close the evening’s concert. 

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

The concerts will take place: 

• Wednesday, Dec. 3, through Friday, Dec. 5, at 7:30 p.m. in Lee Chapel inside Elizabeth Hall on the DeLand campus, 421 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand, FL 32723.

• Saturday, Dec. 6, at 7:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Orlando, 142 East Jackson St., Orlando, FL 32801. 

This year’s Christmas Candlelight will be bittersweet. Dr. Peter is retiring and this will be his last year as the concert’s artistic director and conductor. 

Dr. Peter transformed Stetson’s holiday concerts into spectacular productions after he arrived in 2012, bringing together nearly 200 student musicians from Stetson’s three choirs, the Chamber Orchestra and Symphonic Band, as well as the University Organist.  

“As this will be my last Christmas Candlelight performances with my retirement in May 2026, I am grateful for all of our students, my colleagues and our audience members who have made this concert so special over the years,” he said.