Grace Cathedral

Grace Cathedral

Article | November 11, 2020

Spirit & Art: Christmas Concerts at Grace Cathedral

Blog|Grace

New Beginnings

For nearly 75 years, Christmas concerts at Grace Cathedral have been a beloved San Francisco tradition. That tradition lives on despite the pandemic, allowing us the opportunity to pivot online and reimagine what Christmas at Grace Cathedral can be. This year, from December 12 through Twelfth Night, we invite you to grab a warm cup of cocoa and gather with us online to share joyful music performed in the cathedral. The best part is — you’re guaranteed a front-row seat!

This Christmas offering will bring so much joy to a community in desperate need of something familiar and cheerful.”

Benjamin Bachmann, the Diana Dollar Knowles Canon Director of Music

Music of the Season

Beginning with A Cathedral Christmas: Music of the Season, enjoy classic carols and sacred masterpieces captured in our beautiful cathedral! While the Choir cannot sing all together, you will see gorgeous solos by our Choir Boys. Quartets from the Men of the Choir will get you in the holiday spirit. Meanwhile, special guest appearances by Camerata, our mixed choir, will fill you with cheer. Finally, the wonderful sound of brass with Grace Cathedral’s 7,466-pipe organ, along with other surprises, round out our Christmas concerts!

“I am so grateful to all of you that believe in the mission of this program,” says Benjamin Bachmann, the Diana Dollar Knowles Canon Director of Music. “This Christmas offering will bring so much joy to a community in desperate need of something familiar and cheerful.”

Soulful Joy @ Grace

If you’re looking for something a little different from our regular Christmas concerts, experience Soulful Joy @ Grace. Hear a new sound for the holidays led by Destiny Muhammad and her eclectic Sonic Ensemble of Bay Area Masters. Leon Joyce, Jr., Tammylynn Hall, Brown Sturgis & Brown and Ron Belcher bring jazz and a hint of storytelling. Reflect and reimagine the holiday spirit with the music of Stevie Wonder, Vince Guaraldi, Donny Hathaway and more! Additionally, sacred movement by Carla Service and James Mario Bowen complete this Christmas concert. Help kick off this beautiful new tradition at Grace Cathedral! 

Sing You A Merry Christmas

There is also fun to be had for the whole family! Sing You A Merry Christmas lets you and your loved ones sing along at home to your favorite holiday carols! Watch as the toys of St. Nicholas’s workshop lead you on an extraordinary journey, filling children, young and old, with the joys of the season. Subsequently, you can make the joy come alive with a Play Along Surprise Box! Receive special treats and toys mailed to you for more at-home fun!

Christmas won’t be the same this year, but that doesn’t mean it has to be bad! Our three holiday offerings will bring sparkle to the season and can be viewed on demand at your convenience. Grace Cathedral’s Christmas concerts have been a cherished tradition for many and we’re keeping that tradition alive this year. Christmas concerts at Grace Cathedral celebrate moving from darkness to light, the joyful anticipation, and preparing for Christ’s coming in our hearts, our lives and world. Light will shine in the darkness this Christmas. Help be a part of that light and experience the deep connection between spirit and art at Grace Cathedral.

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