The whistle of the flutes above the orchestra created an eerie sound as the choir softly chanted the opening words of the Gospel of John: “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and Word was God.” The unearthly music brought to mind a picture of the Genesis creation story where the spirit of God hovered over the dark waters. Then the music quickened. Cymbals crashed and trumpets blew as the choir sang the words from the Gospel of Luke: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” Chimes rang, and the sound grew joyful and triumphant as a soloist sang, “And for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.” That piece, Nativity, Opus 21, opened the 25th annual Christmas Concert for Charity, sponsored by The Catholic University of America’s Benjamin T. Rome School of Music and the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The first portion of the concert, which was held Dec. 5 at the     National Shrine, featured the Choir of the Basilica conducted by Peter Latona, the shrine’s director of music. The concert’s second half featured the CUA Chamber Choir, University Singers, University Chorus and the CUA Symphony Orchestra conducted by Leo Nestor, the university’s Justine Bayard Ward Professor and its director of choral studies and its Institute of Sacred Music. The opening piece, which premiered at the concert, “was so dramatic,” said Christiana Gellert, a CUA junior. “I felt like I almost understood the Nativity better because I heard that representation, that musical expression of it.” She was one of thousands of students and community members who gathered to experience the Christmas tradition in the basilica’s Great Upper Church, which was festively decorated with poinsettias, lit Christmas trees and holly garlands. The debut piece, written by CUA graduate student Jeff Cortazzo, was part of the long-standing tradition of introducing an original work by a student or faculty member at the concert. The piece, two movements of an unfinished cantata, along with the rest of the concert will be aired by the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) on Christmas day, December 28 and 31, said CUA dean of music Grayson Wagstaff.  “As far as I know there is no other event in the United States where a student would have this large an audience and TV coverage of the premiere of a new composition,” said Wagstaff. “(The coverage) allows (the concert) to speak to so many people in such a beautiful way.” The individual talents of other performers were also showcased at the concert, like soprano Molly Allen’s solo in “Silent Night” and CUA senior and choir member Matthew Yost’s beautiful orchestration of “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming.” His arrangement’s tone, reminiscent of a flower slowly opening its petals or the stirrings of a long-awaited sunrise, was part of his plan to have the music express what the text was demonstrating. “I really thought what the piece was all about— this anticipation of Christ coming into the world and this beauty springing forth from the darkness,” said Yost. “I was trying to convey this sense of growing motion and excitement and building almost release from tension.” The CUA singers and orchestra also performed two Latin American pieces, standards like “Oh Come All Ye Faithful,” and songs about peace, such as Francis Poulenc’s “Priez Por Paix.”  Yost said he especially enjoyed the latter song, noting, “It’s just such a rich texture and a really genuine prayer… Dr. Nestor (the CUA director of choral studies) tells the story of how it was written, right as World War II was beginning to become inevitable in Europe. Poulenc read this poem in a cafe and sat down and wrote this piece. I think it’s really important to hear it in our time.” The selection was chosen by Nestor, who started the Christmas Concert for Charity 25 years ago when he was music director at the National Shrine.  Unfortunately due to an illness, music instructor Bryan Lilley had to take over for Nestor as conductor with just a few days notice. The concert also featured the National Shrine choir, conducted by Peter Latona. They began the concert by singing the Magnificat, followed by popular Christmas carols like “God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen” and “Ave Maria,” as well as lesser-known pieces such as “This Have I Done for My True Love,” which detailed the trials Christ endured for the good of his “true love” –  humanity. At the end of the choir’s performance, the audience stood and joined them in an enthusiastic round of “Angels We have Heard on High.” Between performances a freewill offering for was taken for Holy Family Hospital of Bethlehem Foundation, a Catholic maternity hospital located 500 yards from the birthplace of Christ. The Catholic teaching hospital, run by the Order of Malta, provides care to women and their babies regardless of background or ability to pay. In the past, the concert has supported charities like Bethlehem House, a home for adults with intellectual disabilities and A Simple House, a lay missionary apostolate serving the poor. The whole event was a wonderful example of the giving spirit of Christmas, said CUA student Christiana Gellert. “It’s a beautiful community function and I think it epitomizes so many of the great things about Christmas – it highlights a really good charity, and I can see the talents of all of my friends and receive the gift that they’re giving,” she said. John Garvey, president of CUA, said he was proud that the university was able to perform and experience the beauty of Christmas music in “the biggest and most beautiful church in North America,” he said. “I think people don’t give college students enough credit for their appreciation of beautiful things, whether it be art or architecture or music,” he said, “but it’s part of what makes college such a beautiful experience and something you’ll never forget.”