Whitman College To Host Annual Feast of Carols Concert This Weekend
By Patrick Mulikuza ’28
Sing in the holiday season. The free Feast of Carols concert will feature Whitman ensembles, local high school choirs and the Walla Walla Choral Society in a shared celebration of music and service.
Whitman College’s annual Feast of Carols celebration will return to Cordiner Hall on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 3 p.m., inviting the Walla Walla community to celebrate the season with choral music, sing-alongs and a shared effort to support local families in need. Hosted by Whitman's Music Department, the event is free, with attendees encouraged to bring nonperishable food donations for the Blue Mountain Action Council (BMAC) Food Bank.
The Feast of Carols has long been a community-service tradition at Whitman—and a wonderful opportunity for the community to enjoy the artistic talent of the college’s music groups. But for Assistant Professor of Music Laney McLean Armstrong, who is in her second year of directing the event, this year marks a meaningful expansion.
“This year, we have three groups made entirely of community members: two high school choirs and the Walla Walla Choral Society,” she says. “My long-term goal is for Feast of Carols to be a community-based event that Whitman supports, but one that draws from the entire valley.” Alongside these ensembles, the program will feature Whitman’s two choirs and all three student a cappella groups.
Everyone in the audience is invited to sing along to familiar carols, and Armstrong emphasizes that shared music-making is central to the concert’s spirit. “When everyone sings together, it’s really beautiful,” she says. “Overall, the event should put people in the holiday spirit.”
The event also carries a deeper purpose: supporting BMAC through a community food drive. Rather than charging admission, the Feast of Carols encourages attendees to bring shelf-stable items like canned goods, pasta, rice, boxed meals or ramen. Last year, the event collected 1,000 pounds of food. “I’d love to surpass that goal,” Armstrong says. “All you need is one can or one box of something—anything shelf-stable.”
A meaningful celebration of community. Feast of Carols is “a great way for Whitman to support the community both through food collection and through music and the arts,” says Assistant Professor of Music Laney McLean Armstrong. “It’s a way to serve the community and partner with local groups to bring this musical experience to campus.”
For Armstrong, the mission of Feast of Carols follows her deep-rooted passion for music and community. A lifelong singer, she has spent countless holiday seasons performing in concerts. “There was a time when I could barely sleep because I had so many concerts in December,” she says with a laugh. “For me, singing and sharing music with others is a way of showing love and gratitude to a community. During the holidays, it feels even more powerful.”
Though the Music Department is the event’s official sponsor, many people across the Whitman community help make the Feast of Carols possible. Kim Young, Administrative Assistant for the Hall of Music, handles the program and poster design. Millie Atack ’26, a Music major and student assistant from Seattle, helps with event coordination. Connor Anderson, the Cordiner Hall Stage Technician, manages the technical production. And Michael Simon ’02, Senior Lecturer of Music, oversees the livestream. Together, their combined work supports the smooth planning, promotion and execution of the concert.
As the holiday season begins, Armstrong hopes to see Cordiner Hall full. “I’d love to see as many people as possible—not just because performing for a large audience is fun, but because we want to involve the whole community in this event,” she says. “And, of course, to collect food for a worthy cause.”