The Christmas season invites us to pause, breathe deeply, and rediscover the hope found in the story of Christ’s birth. This year, the Walla Walla University Department of Music offers a trio of concerts designed to guide the community into this season with beauty, contemplation, and festive cheer. From quiet sacred moments to energetic big-band swing, these events highlight the breadth of musical expression that marks the holidays at WWU.
Evensong
Saturday, December 6 • 4:00 p.m. • University Church
The month begins with Evensong, an intimate program that brings together organ and piano students of Professors Kraig Scott and Debra Bakland. Woven with spoken word by Rodd Strobel, this service provides a serene close to the Sabbath and a gentle entry into Advent. Listeners are invited to rest, reflect, and welcome the peace of the season.
“Beck the Halls” Holiday Concert
Wednesday, December 10 • 7:30 p.m. • FAC Recital Hall
The annual “Beck the Halls” concert returns with a fresh burst of energy, featuring the WWU Big Band under the direction of Brandon Beck. This year’s performance highlights guest trumpet soloist Gary Gemberling, alongside student instrumental soloists Logan Henneberg and Mia Cabansag (saxophone), Nathan Neidigh (trombone), and Kole GreyEyes (trumpet). Vocalists Mia Cabansag and Luke Palau will also take the stage.
With a program filled with jazz-inspired arrangements of Christmas favorites, the concert promises an evening of rhythmic sparkle, skilled improvisation, and the warm camaraderie of big-band tradition
Annual Christmas Concert—The Fullness of Time
Friday, December 12 • 6:00 & 8:00 p.m. • University Church
Livestream available for both concerts at wallawalla.edu/concerts
“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son…” Galatians 4:4–5
This year’s Christmas concert centers on the theme The Fullness of Time, reflecting on the divine timing of Christ’s birth. Christians across history have wrestled with the tension between longing and fulfillment, between the world as it is and the world as God has promised it will be. The annual Christmas concert speaks into that longing with music that guides listeners to the peace found in trusting God’s perfect timing.
Presented by the University Singers, ICantori, and the Symphony Orchestra, this beloved tradition offers stirring choral and orchestral works that illuminate the hope of the season and celebrate the story of Christ’s coming.
Posted Nov. 25, 2025
