The spirit of the holiday season comes alive during Stetson University School of Music’s Christmas Candlelight concerts at Lee Chapel in Elizabeth Hall and First United Methodist Church of Orlando.

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 during an evening dedicated to inclusive, sacred music from various cultural and religious traditions celebrated during the holidays.

The 2019 Christmas Candlelight concerts’ mass musical compositions will include “Glow” by Eric Whitacre; “And the Glory of the Lord” from Handel’s “Messiah;” Mack Wilberg’s arrangement of “The First Noel;” “Gloria” by Randol Bass; and John Rutter’s arrangement of “Silent Night” sung by multiple choirs as they light candles and close the performance.

“The 2019 Christmas Candlelight concerts are a celebration of light and love,” said Sandra Peter, DMA, acting director of choral activities and visiting associate professor of music at Stetson. “Lee Chapel is a beautiful, intimate space in which to perform and create a meaningful concert experience. It was also a joy to be able to take the concert on the road to First United Methodist Church of Orlando last year for the Saturday performance. We appreciate the church’s hospitality as they welcome us back this season.”

The 90-minute holiday performances, which sell out quickly, will feature more than 200 student musicians from the Stetson University Concert Choir, Women’s Chorale, Stetson Men and Chamber Orchestra, along with members of the Concert and Symphonic Bands.

In addition to Peter, Stetson faculty collaborating with the students on the concerts include School of Music Dean Timothy Peter, DMA.; Andrew Larson, DMA., associate dean and professor of music; and Boyd Jones, DMA., John E. and Aliese Price professor of organ and university organist.

The four Christmas Candlelight concerts will be held Dec. 4-6, 7:30 p.m. at Lee Chapel in Elizabeth Hall, 421 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand, 32723 and Dec. 7, 7:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church of Orlando, 142 E. Jackson St., Orlando, 32801. All seating is general admission. Doors open one hour before each performance.

Tickets are $35 for adults and $20 for youth ages 4-21 and go on sale online on Tuesday, Oct. 1. There is a limit of six tickets per person. Christmas Candlelight tickets may also be purchased as part of a concert season pass, which is on sale now. Concert season passholders have an opportunity to attend 21 ticketed performances during the School of Music’s 2019-2020 season, which runs through April.

The School of Music’s fall concert series is in full swing and tickets are on sale now. Many of the 2019-2020 season performances are free and open to the public.

-Sandra Carr