Concordia Seminary, St. Louis invites friends and neighbors in the St. Louis area to gather for an enchanting outdoor Christmas carillon concert at 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, on the Seminary campus. Combined with the Christmas lights on the trees in the campus’ Concordia Park and the setting sun, the concert will remind listeners of the excitement and anticipation of our Lord Jesus’ birth. The concert is free and open to the public.

The carillon at Concordia Seminary is one of only 170 such instruments in North America. The 49 bells have been played atop Luther Tower since 1971, and are dedicated to all pastors who have served The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). It is housed in Luther Tower, the 120-foot structure designed by architect Charles Klauder and dedicated in 1966.

Playing the carillon for this concert is Karel Keldermans, one of the preeminent carillonneurs in North America and a carillonneur for Concordia Seminary since 2000.

“For the first time in recent memory, Concordia Seminary is pleased to offer a Christmas carillon concert,” said Dr. Kent Burreson, dean of Chapel and professor of Practical Theology at Concordia Seminary. “Paralleling the Seminary’s summer carillon concert series, this concert will allow us to hear Christmas music performed on the very unique instrument, the carillon of bells that compose Luther Tower on the Seminary campus. We look forward to preparing for the birth of the Savior in this unique way.”

Guests are invited to gather in the Main Quadrangle, near Luther Statue, inside Wartburg Hall or around the East Courtyard fire pit and to enjoy hot chocolate and cookies while they listen. In the event of rain or snow, guests may gather under the archways and tower or inside Wartburg Hall.

Learn more about the Seminary’s carillon at csl.edu/campus-landmarks/.

About Concordia Seminary

Concordia Seminary, St. Louis provides Gospel-centered graduate-level theological education for pastors, missionaries, deaconesses, scholars and other leaders in the name of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). To learn more, visit csl.edu.