Press

Of all the many musical holiday traditions that grace the Christmas season in Chestnut Hill, none has become a more cherished event that the Mendelssohn Chorus’ annual “A Feast of Carols.” The concert is so popular that its program must be performed twice to accommodate the large audiences that wish to hear it.

This year’s installment will be conducted by the choir’s artistic director, Dominick DiOrio. It will be performed Saturday, Dec. 13, at 2 and 5 p.m. in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 22 East Chestnut Hill Ave. The program will include the world premiere of a new work by Philadelphia-born composer Rex Isenberg entitled “Great Miracles,” along with a sensitive mix of anthems and carols with audience participation.

The concerts will include the highly-anticipated “Postcard Carols” segment, one of DiOrio’s most compelling innovations. DiOrio composes new music for “Postcard Carols,” works that donors commission a year earlier to celebrate their loved ones, while also lending financial support to the chorus. Each composition receives its world premiere at the concert.

St. Paul’s Church is one of the most nearly perfect venues for concerts performed by large choruses, often accompanied by organ and brass quintet. The consort of brass instruments from trumpet down to tuba have a special holiday ring to them, often recalling scenes from film productions of Charles Dickens’ immortal “A Christmas Carol.”

And then there’s the Church’s magnificent Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ – recently and lovingly restored, and during “A Feast of Carols” to be played by the parish’s music director, Andrew Kotylo. Such expert hands guarantee it to be the “concert to be remembered” of the 2025 Christmas season.

For more information, visit mcchorus.org.