Christmas in the Cathedral helps kick off the holiday season in Helena

Helena, Montana – On Monday, December 4, 2023, the Helena Symphony presented their annual Christmas at the Cathedral, a tradition spanning decades.

“Music is part of our almost everyday lives,” said Maestro Helena Symphony Music Director Allan R. Scott.

One of Helena’s most cherished Christmas customs is this performance, for which tickets are sold out well in advance—a year in advance.

Every concert between 5:30 and 8 p.m. was sold out, with over 700 people packed inside the cathedral.

They alternate between two distinct curricula every year.

“It’s sort of like a lesson in carols. So, there’s readings and music, but it’s not Christmas carols and not necessary scripture readings. It’s all appropriate for the season, it’s poetry and very reflective, and the music, for this one, is very much about the humanity of Christmas,” Scott said.

In addition to some spoken word poetry celebrating the birth of Jesus, this format features some of the most well-known holiday carols.

A special location and method to hear the symphony are also offered by the Cathedral.

“It’s meant for this space. It meant so even when the singers or the orchestra is done, you’re still hearing it carry, and it resonates in all different corners,” said Scott.