In celebration of the upcoming holiday season, Wittenberg University will present its fifth-annual tree lighting and its popular Lessons and Carols for Advent and Christmas on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025.
The tree lighting will take place on Chapel Lawn at 6:30 p.m. Enjoy hot beverages and refreshments, along with build-your-own reindeer chow, before heading over to historic Weaver Chapel for Lessons and Carols for Advent and Christmas at 7:30 p.m. Pre-service music begins at 7 p.m.
Part of the 2025-2026 Wittenberg Series, the Lessons and Carols event is free and open to the public and will be facilitated by Dr. Christian M. M. Brady, Wittenberg’s 16th president, who will serve in the pastoral role for the event.
Featuring three choirs, including the Springfield Symphony Orchestra (SSO) Chorale, the Wittenberg Chorale, and the Springfield High School Chamber Choir, Lessons and Carols offers a time of music and reflection as the Advent season unfolds.
Kevin Wilson, director of the SSO Chorale, which is 70 members strong, will be directing the program, and each group will be performing on its own and together.
The SSO Chorale usually performs with SSO at the Kuss Auditorium, explained Wilson, who joined as director in summer 2024, “so this is a bit of a new venture for this group.
“The Lessons and Carols program will be in line with previous ones held at Wittenberg, as we are trying to continue the tradition, not recreate one,” Wilson added. “I'm hoping we achieve that goal and am looking forward to a wonderful evening of music at Weaver Chapel.”
The SSO Chorale previously performed the Rutter Gloria and the Stravinsky Symphony of Psalms last spring and is currently gearing up to perform again with the SSO for the Mozart Requiem, April 18.
Wilson has also been working with the Wittenberg Chorale, a club-status ensemble, this semester. The group consists of 10 members and has been meeting weekly since October and will continue to meet next semester.
The Wittenberg Chorale, which will be performing three pieces, includes Wittenberg students Abigail Anderson, class of 2025 from Hamburg, New York, who also sings with the SSO Chorale; Jayden Bardo, class of 2027 from Alexandria, Kentucky; Alex Combs, class of 2029 from Zanesville, Ohio; Antwan Terrell, class of 2026 from Springfield, Ohio; Gabby Fronk, class of 2028 from Loveland, Ohio; Susannah (Morgan) Huffstetler, class of 2029 from Dayton, Ohio; Victoria (Tori) Manring, class of 2028 from Plain City, Ohio; Carmen Martinez, class of 2026 from Nashville, Tennessee; Nyqueze (Nike) Ortiz, class of 2028 from Avon, Ohio; and Sarah White, class of 2025 from Pickerington, Ohio, who also sings with the SSO Chorale.
The Springfield High School Chamber Choir is under the direction of David Kravetz and Emily Fowler. They have been asked to participate in Lessons and Carols as part of a community outreach for Wittenberg, along with the SSO Chorale, which will be performing five pieces. All choirs are performing a final piece together called Night of Silence, where the congregation will join in as in previous years and conclude with a candlelit singing of Silent Night.
The audience and congregation will be joining with the choirs, the organ, and a brass quintet on five Christmas Carols, including Angels We Have Heard on High, The First Noel, O Come, All Ye Faithful, Joy to the World, and O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. This year’s program art was designed by Taylor Collins, class of 2026, from Carlisle, Ohio.
Lessons and Carols for Advent and Christmas began at Wittenberg in 1984. This year’s event includes multiple readings by Wittenberg students, the singing of familiar Christmas hymns, and performances connecting to the theme of celebrating God’s presence with creation through Jesus’ birth and centering on the light of Christ coming among people during the Advent season.
This year’s student readers include Claire Patton, class of 2026 from Mason, Ohio; Avery Livingston, class of 2025 from Greer, South Carolina; Max Green, class of 2026 from Dayton, Ohio; Alex Combs, class of 2029 from Zanesville, Ohio; Phoebe Ortiz, class of 2027 from West Milton, Ohio; Abigail Anderson, class of 2025 from Hamburg, New York; and Morgan Long, class of 2027 from Englewood, Ohio.
The Wittenberg Series was created in 1982 during President William A. Kinnison’s tenure. Since its inception, Nobel Laureates, scientists, significant literary figures, most of America’s foremost modern dance companies, as well as hundreds of prominent psychologists, educators, economists, writers, theologians, urban planners, and historians, have visited the campus to participate.
All events of The Wittenberg Series are open to the public free of charge. Doors open 30 minutes prior to the beginning of each lecture or performance. Below are further details on the remaining events.
