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| Mack Wilberg leads the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square during the 2025 Christmas Concert. |
The air in downtown Salt Lake City is officially filled with the spirit of Christmas, thanks to the annual holiday concerts by The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square. These highly anticipated performances, hosted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, draw crowds from across the globe to celebrate the birth of the Savior, Jesus Christ, with magnificent music and reverence.
The 2025 Christmas concerts are particularly star-studded, featuring the brilliant talents of Tony Award-winning actress Stephanie J. Block and her husband, acclaimed Broadway and television star Sebastian Arcelus, as the featured guest artists.
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| The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hosts an annual Christmas concert to celebrate the birth of the Savior, Jesus Christ. Nearly 19,000 people attended the first performance of the 2025 concert at the Conference Center on Thursday evening, December 11. |
A Grand Opening to the Holiday Season
The festive atmosphere began on Thursday evening, December 11, 2025, with the first performance at the spacious Conference Center. A massive audience of nearly 19,000 people was on hand to witness the kickoff of this beloved holiday tradition. Additional shows were scheduled for Friday, December 12, and Saturday, December 13, ensuring thousands more could share in the musical celebration.
President Gary B. Porter of the Tabernacle Choir’s Presidency noted the unique focus of the event during a news conference, stating, "It's a little different than some of the other concerts we've done, just a little less pageantry...with a focus on Jesus Christ." This spiritual center remains the heart of the annual concert.
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| Stephanie J. Block sings with the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square during the 2025 Christmas Concerts, on Thursday, Dec 11, 2025. Block received the 2019 Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical, along with Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards, for her performance in “The Cher Show.” |
The Guest Artists Reflect: A Unique Opportunity
On Friday morning, Stephanie J. Block and Sebastian Arcelus met with the media to share their thoughts on the honor of performing with the world-renowned Choir during the Christmas season.
Their journey to Temple Square is a sweet, full-circle moment for the couple, who first met while playing the lead roles in the first national tour of the Broadway hit Wicked. Both are distinguished performers: Block's career is highlighted by her 2019 Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her performance in The Cher Show, while Arcelus is well-known for his television roles in Madam Secretary and House of Cards, alongside his impressive stage work.
Arcelus most recently starred as the Baker opposite his wife in the touring production of Into the Woods, and Block herself received critical acclaim for the same show on Broadway.
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| Under the direction of Mack Wilberg, music director, and Ryan Murphy, associate music director, the Tabernacle Choir and featured guest artists ring in the Christmas spirit with the 2025 Christmas Concert on Thursday, Dec 11, 2025. |
Concert Highlights: A Feast for the Ears
Under the expert direction of music director Mack Wilberg and associate music director Ryan Murphy, the concert is a glorious tapestry of holiday classics and moving spiritual music.
The show opens on a high note with the Choir singing songs of exuberant Christmas joy, including "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee," "Joy to the World," and "Tis Joy When Moon and Stars Above." The auditory splendor is enhanced by the participation of the Bells at Temple Square and the majestic Gabriel Trumpet Ensemble.
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| Tony Award-winning actress Stephanie J. Block sings at the 2025 Christmas concerts. Block recently appeared as Kate in “Kiss Me, Kate” at London’s Barbican Theatre and as the Baker’s Wife in the Broadway revival and national tour of “Into the Woods.” |
Broadway Talent Shines
Stephanie J. Block commanded the stage with several beautiful Christmas carols, performing soul-stirring renditions of "Bring a Torch Jeanette, Isabella" and "What Child is This?" She also treated the audience to a medley of songs, including "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music. A delightful moment came when her husband, Sebastian Arcelus, joined her for a heartfelt performance of "Merry Christmas, Darling."
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| Featured guest artists perform at the 2025 Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square Christmas Concert on Thursday, December 11, 2025. |
Arcelus, celebrating his heritage, returned to his Latin roots by singing several songs in Spanish, including "Vamos, ya Pastores." The program included an international flourish with the performance of two guest instrumentalists from South America, Julian Mansilla and Leandro Curaba, following their recent appearance with the Choir during its tour in Argentina.
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| Organist Richard Elliott plays an arrangement of "Far, Far Away on Judea's Plains," at the annual Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert on Thursday, December 11, 2025. |
The Message of Christmas
The guest artists and the Choir brought the performance to a spiritual peak with combined favorites such as "Jingle Bells" and the timeless "Silent Night." Organist Richard Elliott contributed a stirring arrangement of "Far, Far Away on Judea's Plains."
Later in the program, Arcelus and Block took a moment to remind everyone of the true reason for the season, reading the foundational Christmas story found in Luke 2 of the New Testament.
The spectacular concert concluded with the Choir's beloved arrangement of “Angels from the Realms of Glory,” masterfully arranged by Mack Wilberg, who has been integral to the Christmas concert for over 25 years.
The Music Continues: How to Experience the Performance
While the complimentary tickets for the main concerts were quickly distributed, hope remains for those eager to experience the music live!
• A standby line forms at the Tabernacle on Temple Square 90 minutes before the 8:00 p.m. concert start time on Friday and Saturday.
• Block and Arcelus are also scheduled to perform at the world-renowned “Music & the Spoken Word” broadcast on Sunday, December 14, at 9:30 a.m. No tickets are required for this broadcast.
The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, a Grammy and multiple Emmy Award-winning, all-volunteer choral ensemble of 360 men and women, continues its tradition of providing inspiring music that helps people feel closer to the divine and celebrate the boundless love of God.
The annual Christmas concert truly is a highlight of the season, a spectacular reminder of the joy and hope that the birth of Jesus Christ brings to the world.
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