The talents of more than 300 students will be on display Dec. 2-4 during the 69th annual Christmas with Wartburg.

Tickets are on sale for shows Saturday, Dec. 3, at 3 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday Dec. 4, at 3 p.m., in Wartburg College’s Neumann Auditorium, as well as Friday, Dec. 2, at 7:30 p.m., at Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines.

This year’s production is based on “O Antiphons,” which is used in Christian liturgies throughout the world. The theme, “O Night Divine,” is taken from Adolphe Adam’s beloved “O Holy Night,” which will be featured in this year’s performances.

“The concert will take the audience on a musical journey that explores the wonder and mystery of both night and holy light found throughout the Christmas story,” said Lee Nelson, Christmas with Wartburg artistic director and professor of music.

The concert will feature a new composition by Jacob Tews, assistant professor of music, which takes the audience on a biblical journey from darkness to light.

Seven Wartburg musical groups will perform: the Wartburg Choir, Wind Ensemble, Castle Singers, Ritterchor men’s choir, the all-female St. Elizabeth Chorale, Kantorei and Kammerstreicher (a string orchestra).

Nelson will direct the Wartburg Choir and Ritterchor. Craig Hancock, professor of music, will direct the Wind Ensemble. Nicki Toliver, assistant professor of music, will conduct the Castle Singers and Kantorei. Karen Black, professor of music, will direct the St. Elizabeth Chorale. Tews will direct Kammerstreicher.

Illuminating the concert will be a new mural designed by Chris Knudson, a 2001 Wartburg graduate and the college’s interim senior director of marketing and communication.

This year’s production is made possible, in part, through the support of Sukup Manufacturing.

Tickets are $18 for all Waverly performances and $20 for the West Des Moines performance. Meals will be offered in Waverly on Saturday and Sunday at 5 p.m. for an additional cost. Concert and meal tickets can be purchased online at www.wartburg.edu/christmas, from 10 a.m. to noon weekdays at the ticket office in Saemann Student Center or by calling 319-352-8691 during ticket office hours.