Music department, Box Office gear up for filming of Christmas at Luther performances

More than 550 students in six different choral ensembles, the Symphony Orchestra, the Luther Ringers and the Christmas Brass Ensemble will be showcased during this year’s Christmas at Luther concert. The performance will open the first weekend of December, and as in 2005, this year’s performance will be filmed for broadcast on PBS.

While this is an undoubtedly busy time for musicians on campus, the Luther Box Office also busily prepares for Christmas at Luther. The event is very popular for students, parents, alumni and community members alike, often making it difficult to obtain tickets.

Box Office workers Andrea Johnson (‘09) and Alyson Gangstee (‘09) helped shed some light on the complex process of obtaining such coveted event tickets.

Ticket order forms were sent to the parents of students in participating ensembles and choral groups in early September. Each performer was able to reserve up to four tickets per family. This year, the Box Office used an e-mail-based ticket reservation process for students not involved in the performance.

“We try to accommodate requests for seating with friends for both students and faculty/staff, but performers’ parents and current Luther students are given highest priority in performance date and seats since they are most directly involved with the performers as parents and peers,” said Johnson and Gangstee in an email interview.

Every four years, the Christmas at Luther performances are filmed for television. While the filming is an important element to the performance, it does not appear to have an influence on attendance.

“We don’t notice a change in ticket sales due to videotaping, as the concert is overwhelmingly popular each year,” said Johnson and Gangstee. “However, we do lose a few seats in the CFL because of camera placement.”

So far, more than 7,700 tickets have been sold.

Jennifer Self, coordinator for music organizations and marketing, spoke briefly about this year’s new modifications for the television broadcast.

“We are preparing for television with a brand new set design by J.L. Murphey Designs,” said Self.

In addition, television coverage is being handled by a new network this year.

“Luther staff and faculty have been working closely with Twin Cities Public Television to prepare for the broadcast,” said Self.

This is the first year TPT will be filming Christmas at Luther. The production will be aired nationally as a PBS Holiday Special.

The live performances will be Dec. 4 at 5:45 p.m., Dec. 5 at both 6:45 p.m. and 9:15 p.m., Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 7 at 2:30 p.m. The first broadcast will be aired Dec. 22 at 9 p.m. Self advises those interested to check local PBS listings in December for exact air times.