st. olaf college. and now... "christmas at st. olaf." [orchestra plays softly] ♪ as the dark awaits the dawn, ♪ ♪ so we await your light. ♪ o star of promise, scatter night, ♪ ♪ loving bright, loving bright ♪ ♪ till shades of fear are gone. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ as the blue expectant hour ♪ before the silv'ring skies, ♪ ♪ we long to see your day arise, ♪ ♪ whole and wise, whole and wise, ♪ ♪ o lucent morning star. ♪ ♪ ♪ as the moon reflects the sun ♪ ♪ until the night's decrease, ♪ may we your healing light release, ♪ ♪ living peace, living peace, ♪ ♪ unto your holy dawn. ♪ ♪ ♪ shine your future on this place, ♪ ♪ enlighten ev'ry guest, ♪ that through us stream your holiness, ♪ ♪ bright and blest, bright and blest; ♪ ♪ come dawn, o sun of grace. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ we await ♪ your light. ♪ ♪ ♪ rejoice, rejoice believers, ♪ and let your lights appear; ♪ the evening is advancing ♪ and darker night is near. ♪ the bridegroom is arising ♪ and soon is drawing nigh. ♪ up, pray and watch and wrestle; ♪ ♪ at midnight comes the cry. ♪ ♪ ♪ rejoice, rejoice believers, ♪ land

st. olaf college. this year marks the centennial celebration of st. olaf's festival, one of the longest running concerts in the country. the lutheran schools and elite choir earned international accolades. kim lau ten takes a look at the mission that is more than music. >> it's a century of celebration. >> for the past 100 years, they put on a christmas concert that is known and loved around the world. nearly a third of the 3,000 students participate in the christmas festival, which combines more than 600 voices from five campus choirs, including the elite st. olaf choir. the repertoire showcases a variety of sacred music. there are classic holiday standards, songs that hark back to the school's scandinavian heritage, and some from other cultures as well. the program is designed to reflect the essential religious meaning of christmas. anton armstrong conducts the st. olaf choir. >> it's just not the music, but that we are lifting up a message, a message of hope, a message of faith, a message of understanding, and most of all a message of love. >> the p