Duke Chorale Shares the Sound of the Season Across Campus and Community
The final weeks of the semester may whirl like snowflakes in a brisk December wind, but the Duke Chorale has spent this season grounding the Duke community in moments of melody, stillness, and shared joy. Their music has threaded through chapel aisles, hospital corridors, and celebratory gatherings, each appearance adding another note to a campus-wide chorus of warmth and goodwill.
This year, three major holiday celebrations shaped their festive journey: the Duke Chorale Holiday Concert, the 35th Annual Tree of Hope Lighting Ceremony at Duke Cancer Center, and the Duke Employee Holiday Event at Duke Chapel.
Duke Chapel Filled With Song: Duke Chorale Holiday Concert
The season opened Dec. 2 in the soaring, amber-lit nave of Duke Chapel, where the Chorale stepped into their long-cherished role as seasonal storytellers. Even before the first note, the atmosphere hummed with anticipation. The chapel’s limestone arches caught the glow of twinkling décor, and the murmured excitement of families, students, and alumni rippled like a quiet prelude.
This year’s concert emphasized collaboration. Students from the Durham School of the Arts and the Duke University String School joined the Chorale, adding layers of youthful voices and strings that expanded the ensemble’s sound.
“Chorale has presented a Holiday Concert in Duke Chapel for at least four decades, with a long tradition of the concert proceeds going towards a local non-profit,” said Allan Friedman, director of the Duke University Chorale. “At the darkest time of the year, the choir is proud to bring some light, warmth, and hope to the broader Durham community.”
“I loved conducting in the Duke Chorale Holiday Concert and playing percussion in such a beautiful space,” said Reyna Blyss Alston, co-director of the Duke University Chorale. “It’s a joy to work with students at Duke. Their musicianship and passion made the concert especially meaningful.”
Admission to the concert included a book donation through a partnership with Book Harvest. Audience members contributed 500 books for children across Durham, a visual reminder of the evening’s community impact.
“It’s always incredibly moving to see the Durham community come together to celebrate the holidays and support Book Harvest through music,” said Diego Zalles, a Duke Chorale member and a member of the Class of 2026. “I genuinely love getting the opportunity to sing alongside these talented young artists, the future generation of the arts here in Durham. Their enthusiasm, curiosity, and openness bring a fresh energy that reminds me why I fell in love with Chorale in the first place. Sharing this experience in the Duke Chapel makes it all the more special.”
The program drew inspiration from Duke’s tradition of community-facing arts, featuring both classic holiday repertoire and contemporary works shaped around themes of hope, illumination, and togetherness. Families lingered long after the final chord, reluctant to let the magic dissolve.
Hope Illuminated: Duke Cancer Center’s Tree of Hope Lighting
When the Chorale arrived at the 35th Annual Tree of Hope Lighting Ceremony, they stepped into a space where music carries not just beauty, but meaning.
As the Chorale began to sing, their harmonies washed softly across the atrium of the Duke Cancer Center, offering a momentary refuge from the weight of illness and uncertainty. After the inside ceremony, attendees exited to the garden for the tree lighting and were provided an electric candle to help light the way.
The Garden of Tranquility glowed with light from luminaries which were purchased in honor or memory of a loved one. The Tree of Hope itself rose tall beside them, its branches filled with lights until it resembled a constellation of human resilience.
“The Duke Chorale’s performance at the Tree of Hope Celebration was truly moving. Their music created a sense of peace and unity that perfectly captured the spirit of the event,” said Nilam Patel, administrative director for the Duke Cancer Institute Supportive Care & Survivorship Center and Center for Onco-Primary Care. “It was a beautiful reminder of resilience for patients, families, and staff alike.”
The Chorale’s program for this event favored pieces with spacious lines and warm tonal colors, music that could settle gently into the hearts of those listening. Their performance became part of a larger mosaic of healing, remembrance, and solidarity.
A Campus Celebration: Duke Employee Holiday Event
The Chorale’s final major celebration of the season brought them back to the radiant expanse of Duke Chapel for the Duke Employee Holiday Event, hosted by Duke Human Resources. The chapel echoed with laughter even before doors opened, touched by the aroma of seasonal treats and the pleasant bustle of colleagues reconnecting.
When the Chorale began to sing, the Chapel transformed into a musical snow globe. Their harmonies traveled upward into the vaulted ceiling, then drifted back like a soft flurry settling on the shoulders of faculty, staff, and families. The program featured beloved classics alongside spirited arrangements that invited the audience into gentle toe tapping behind their cocoa cups.
This event also included longtime Duke holiday traditions highlighted in Duke’s seasonal programming: festive stations, community-building activities, and moments of gratitude for the people who keep the university running year-round.
“The employee holiday concert is such a fun tradition that I always look forward to,” said Aaron Ng, a Duke Chorale member and a member of the Class of 2027. “It’s just such a rewarding opportunity to pause during the rush of finals and show some appreciation for our incredible staff who are in many ways the foundation of the university.”
The event reminded many attendees that music can stitch together the diverse corners of a large institution, even if only for an afternoon.
About Duke Chorale and What’s Next
The Duke Chorale is one of the university’s most storied musical ensembles, known for blending artistry with service. Their mission reaches beyond performance: they act as cultural ambassadors, collaborators, and musical stewards for campus and community alike.
“The Chorale has always striven to make excellent music and a strong community,” Friedman said. “Moving forward, we are hoping to spread our impact by working with local musical groups and non-profit partners so that our students can share their music and their desire to do good works both at Duke and beyond its walls.”
Upcoming Performances
- Duke Chorale Tour Kick-Off Concert
Thursday, March 5, 7 p.m. | Judea Reform Congregation - Duke Chorale Puerto Rico Tour
March 9–14 | Various locations in Puerto Rico - Duke Chorale & Durham Medical Orchestra: Carmina Burana
Saturday, March 21, 7:30 p.m. | Baldwin Auditorium - Duke Chorale Senior and Alumni Celebration
Saturday, April 11, 4 p.m. | Baldwin Auditorium