A Christmas Tradition in Harmony

Each December, the Hofmann Center fills with the unmistakable sounds of Christmas; joyful, warm, and woven together by the combined talents of the De La Salle and Carondelet band and choir. What has become one of the most beloved arts traditions in the two-school community began, as Band Director Larry Colon recalls, back in 2008.

“Yeah, 2008 that's the first, the first year that we did it with the Carondelet choir and we've been doing it every year since.”

What started as a simple idea has grown into a true community celebration. As Colon explains, “We both wanted to increase our audience. And then we thought that putting both the bands and the choirs together, and building it as a Christmas celebration would be different and would bring in more people.”

From the start, the Hofmann Center has been the concert’s home, giving the night its familiar warmth. “We've always done it in the Hofmann Center since the beginning.”

With the collaboration came cherished traditions; some old, some newly shared. “We always end the concert with the 12 Days of Christmas. That was a tradition that was carried over from the choir. And then the band also has a tradition of playing Sleigh Ride every year by Leroy Anderson.” Even before the groups combined, Colon says, “When it was just the band only, we would end the concert with Sleigh Ride, but then when we combined we still ended the band portion of the concert with Sleigh Ride still.”

Each year’s program centers around the same joyful theme. “It's just Christmas music so we just call it a Christmas Concert.”

While the musical traditions anchor the evening, the event also shines as a rare moment of full creative collaboration between the two schools. “I think the combination of the two communities is great. Everyone enjoys coming together and having the ability to do the Christmas theme.”

It is, in many ways, the most unifying musical event of the year. In years when schedules and group readiness align, the spring concerts sometimes combine as well, but the Christmas concert remains the most consistent point of connection. “Yeah, those are the two where the two musical organizations come together.”

The audiences reflect that impact. Year after year, the Hoffman Center is packed. “I think there's about 600 chairs and usually it's pretty full. I would say about 95 percent full.”

The concert also reaches beyond the two high school communities. Each year, Carondelet’s choral director welcomes local middle-school students to join the performance. “They come and they do a little rehearsal, and they sing on a couple of the songs with the choir. So we have some guests from outside of the community that come in and sing with the choir as well.”

For students, families, and alumni, this night has become a symbol of shared celebration—two schools, one community, and a stage full of young musicians keeping a treasured tradition alive.

“That's been pretty much the genesis of it, I guess. The two schools coming together for one night of music.”