As the Christmas season draws near, Goshen College music ensembles are working to prepare one of their biggest events: A Festival of Carols. The event opens on Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Sauder Concert Hall. FOC will continue throughout the weekend, with shows at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday. The Sunday performance will also be livestreamed.

The Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Choir, Vox Profundi, Voices of the Earth and the Shout for Joy Children’s Choir will all come together to perform Christmas carols and other holiday classics. The concert is based on a traditional English church service, and while some pieces stay the same to honor this tradition, the preparation for this event starts with picking the new pieces.

Scott Hochstetler, professor of music, said, “Preparation for Festival of Carols really begins during the late summer, when directors finalize the music selections for each of the ensembles.”

After the initial selection in the summer, rehearsals must wait until the other fall concerts pass. “We don’t really start rehearsing in earnest until after our fall choral and fall orchestra concerts in late October and early November, respectively,” said Hochstetler.

These rehearsals require participants to not only practice their music, but to work on having it completely memorized.

Jimin Seo, visiting assistant professor of music, said, “The commitment and artistry the orchestra members have shown are extraordinary.”

“We have such a strong, vibrant orchestra this year, and I couldn’t be prouder of them. Our final rehearsal next Tuesday with guest musicians will polish an already brilliant ensemble,” Seo said.

This year marks the 22nd Festival of Carols, but the performance has mostly remained the same. “Festival of Carols hasn’t changed a lot over the years, and that, I think, is part of its appeal,” Hochstetler said. “Following in the tradition of the Anglican church service of Nine Lessons and Carols, we always open with a solo treble voice singing ‘Once in Royal David’s City,’’’ Hochstetler added.

All of the carols are the same each year, except for one rotating carol, and for the conclusion, Hochstetler said, “We always end with the ‘Silent Night’/’O Come, All Ye Faithful’ sequence, which includes a solo voice singing ‘Stille Nacht,’ accompanied by acoustic guitar.” Outside of these staple pieces, the orchestra, Vox Profundi, Voices of the Earth and Shout for Joy pick their own pieces to perform that change each year.

However, as a recent addition to the music department, this is only the second year that Seo has been a part of it.

As both the conductor for the orchestra and the pianist for Vox Profundi, her job demands a high level of care and attention to the musicians’ needs and how to support them throughout the performance.

“Since the performance flows with no applause between stages, my job is to keep everything moving smoothly while giving musicians enough time to get to where they need to be for the next stage,” said Seo.

Preparing the stage can be difficult, though. “We have to fit the full orchestra, including auxiliary percussion and a drum set, choral risers, and a large Christmas tree, while still leaving room for musicians to walk on and off quietly,” Seo added.

Despite all of the effort to make this work, she had said that “seeing the packed, glowing stage with festive lights and everyone’s eyes twinkling makes it all worthwhile and simply takes your breath away.”

When asked about their favorite part of seeing A Festival of Carols come to life, both professors had their own moment that they found special. “I’ve got a number of favorite parts, but if I had to pick one, it would be the singing of the final carol, ‘O Come, All Ye Faithful,’ Hochstetler said “I’m usually standing off on stage right and nothing beats singing that with all the choirs, the orchestra, and the full audience. The amazing sound coupled with the gorgeously decorated hall is truly spectacular. It never ceases to give me chills.”

For Seo, “A Festival of Carols is special because it brings the whole campus and community together. What moves me most is when the Sauder Concert Hall comes alive with lights, sound, and hundreds of young musicians offer their very best,” Seo said.

“To stand at the center of the hall, shaping phrases with the orchestra one moment, supporting a choir at the piano the next, and leading the audience in carol sing-along, is truly a beautiful experience.”

After all of the time and effort that is put into this performance, “Festival of Carols is one of the most intricate and rewarding projects each year,” said Seo. “It is more than a concert. It is a collaboration among all the ensembles in the music department and holds a special place in everyone’s heart in the community, and I am deeply honored to be part of it.”