The Central College music program welcomes the public to a host of holiday concerts, including the 49th annual Christmas Candlelight Concerts.

The Central Community Orchestra will host a free concert on Tuesday, November 28th at 7:30 pm in Douwstra Auditorium, under the direction of Phil Peters. The ALMA Holiday Concert will kick off the holiday music season at 8 pm on Wednesday, November 29. The concert will be directed by Gabriel Espinosa, a 1979 Central graduate and associate professor emeritus of music and admission is free. The Symphonic Wind Ensemble will host a free instrumental concert on Friday, December 1st at 7 pm in Douwstra Auditorium, under the direction of Brad Lampe, lecturer of music. The Flying Pans Steel Band Caribbean Christmas Concert will begin at 7:30 pm on Saturday, December 2 in Douwstra Auditorium. Stan Dahl, senior lecturer of music, will direct the performance. Admission is $5 or free with the donation of a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots.

A Cappella Choir, Chamber Singers and College Community Orchestra will perform Christmas Candlelight Concerts under the direction of Mark Babcock, a 1991 Central graduate, professor of music and M. Joan Kuyper Farver Endowed Chair in Music. “Comfort and Joy” is the theme for this year’s concert. Peters, who recently joined the Central music program, will direct the orchestra. The first performance will begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, December 7th, at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Des Moines. The Two Christmas Candlelight concerts in Pella will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday, December 8th, and Saturday, December 9th, in Douwstra Auditorium. Tickets for adults are $15, students up to age 12 and senior citizens are $12, and admission is free to those who present a Central ID. 

To reserve seats, visit events.central.edu.