The Season Begins with the Holiday Candlelight Concert

The Eastern Michigan University (EMU) Holiday Candlelight Concert is a collaboration of students, faculty, and community members creating the most beautiful collection of music you’ll hear during the holiday season. For many people, the celebration of the season begins with the annual EMU Holiday candlelight concerts.

About the Concert

The EMU Holiday Candlelight Concert is Eastern Michigan University’s signature December Holiday event. It is a development event for the EMU choral department to help raise funds to support the EMU Choral students. 

This year’s Candlelight Concert entitled “For When We Love” will draw musicians and audiences alike close together while celebrating the traditional holiday music of the season. We will focus our music, and narration on the warm feelings of the holiday season.  While there are forces working hard to divide us, this concert reminds us that we have much more in common than what divides us.  And by focusing on empathy and love for all, we can work together to make this a better place for all.

Tonight you will hear artistic work by students, community members, and faculty. The Candlelight Concert includes people from all walks of life, working together to celebrate the season. Each artist is working to he everyone feels renewed, inspired, and connected. 

The choral program offers free concerts year-round and this concert is our only ticketed event. We do so to ensure the cost is not a barrier to beauty.  However, this concert helps to provide the support we need to educate students, connect with our community and work on collaboration.  Thank you for considering a meaningful contribution. 

Traditional carol arrangements will be intermingled with the choral music of J.S. Bach, Edward Elgar, Elaine Hagenberg, G. F. Handel, Herbert Howells, Karen Marrolli, Felix Mendelssohn and Knut Nystedt.