Choral music and the holiday season share a long, familiar history. For Dr. Jaunelle Celaire, chair of the UAF Department of Music and director of the Choir of the North, that bond comes from the way music helps people feel connected across time. “Choral music plays an especially meaningful role during the holidays, and its importance shows up in cultural, emotional, and even community-building ways,” she says. Whether it’s beloved carols or contemporary arrangements like those featured in this year’s program, these songs “carry a deep sense of tradition” and create a bridge between generations.

That sense of continuity is at the heart of the Choir of the North’s annual holiday performance. The concert’s first half features seasonal anthems by renowned arranger Derric Johnson, performed by the ensemble with the clarity and warmth that have become its hallmark. After intermission, the hall shifts into something different: an open invitation for everyone in the audience to join in on familiar Christmas carols. For Celaire, inviting participation is essential. “Even those who don't sing often can join in on well-known carols. It creates a shared cultural moment where people of different backgrounds can celebrate together.”

Community is a theme Celaire returns to often when describing choral singing and the Fairbanks arts landscape. “UAF Music is so connected to the Fairbanks community. One can't live without the other.” Choirs, she explains, model the very thing people seek during the holidays: “Singing in harmony requires listening, cooperation, and shared purpose.” In a season where many look for grounding and connection, choir music makes that search tangible. “The voices in a choir can amplify harmony and emotional themes of the holidays: warmth, peace, hope and reflection.”

This year’s event expands that sense of gathering with pre-concert music from the UAF guitar ensemble, directed by Nathan Arnold, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Great Hall. A holiday bake sale will also greet concertgoers. Together, these elements shape an evening that feels less like a performance and more like a community tradition.

There are also simple, human benefits to creating music side by side. “And let's keep it real! Singing together is proven to reduce stress, boost mood, and strengthen social bonds,” Celaire says. “For many, participating in holiday choirs becomes a grounding and joyful part of the season!”

The Choir of the North Holiday Concert takes place Saturday, December 6, at 7:30 p.m. in the Davis Concert Hall. Admission is free for UAF students and children 12 and under; $5 for non-UAF students, seniors and military; and $10 general admission. “See you Saturday evening,” Celaire says, “and come early to hear the guitar ensemble in the Great Hall!”

About the UAF Choir of the North

Founded in 1957, the Choir of the North is a select ensemble of approximately forty to fifty auditioned singers from across the University of Alaska Fairbanks. One of Alaska’s longest-standing choral organizations, the choir serves as a training ground for future professional musicians and music educators, many of whom go on to teach in Alaska’s public schools, while also providing a creative outlet for students in other majors. Its repertoire ranges from Bach, Brahms, Britten, and Mozart to Rutter and Menotti, alongside a longstanding commitment to Russian choral literature, including Rachmaninoff’s All Night Vigil and scenes from Rimsky-Korsakov’s Christmas Eve. In addition to regular campus performances, the Choir of the North has toured Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, and Europe, performs periodically with the Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra and the Arctic Chamber Orchestra, and has been featured on KUAC’s “Intrada” series and the recording Carols of Christmas.