[slidepress gallery=’christmas-concert’]

More than 300 St. Thomas students rang in the holiday season with the 22nd annual Christmas concerts.

The concerts, entitled “Tis Love That’s Born Tonight,” were held Sunday evening at Orchestra Hall in downtown Minneapolis.

“It was very festive and energetic,” said junior Jeffery Stocker, who has sang with Liturgical Choir since his freshman year. “The choir and band had lots of fun and the audience really enjoyed the performance.”

An estimated 4,500 people listened to the hour-and-a-half performance by the St. Thomas Women’s Choir, Liturgical Choir, Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, Handbell Choir and Symphonic Wind Ensemble.

The line-up included a wide range of music, from modern composers such as Eric Whitacre and Morton Lauridsen, to classic Christmas tunes, such as “The Holly and the Ivy” in a combined medley by the choirs and Symphonic Wind Ensemble.

After each show, many audience members gathered in the lobby and raved about the performance.

“People couldn’t stop saying how great it was,” said senior Matt Lampi, a Chamber Singer. “That’s what we do it for – to put people in the Christmas spirit.”

Zach Pagano can be reached at paga7147@stthomas.edu