Festival of Lessons & Carols: UMD Choral Activities

UMD Choral Activities celebrates the holiday season with its 25th annual Festival of Lessons and Carols. Under the direction of Jason Max Ferdinand, choirs join a brass quintet and organ in a program of carols, hymns, and spoken readings centered on hope and the joy of the season.

The event is held offsite at UMD’s Memorial Chapel rather than at The Clarice. UMD’s choral program is internationally recognized and has collaborated with the National Symphony Orchestra and Baltimore Symphony Orchestra at venues including Carnegie Hall, the Music Center at Strathmore, and Meyerhoff Symphony Hall.

When: Friday, December 4, 2026

Showtime: 8:00 p.m.

Venue: Memorial Chapel at the University of Maryland

Tickets: $25 general admission; $15 seniors; $10 students and youth

Program: Holiday carols, hymns, and spoken word performed by UMD choirs with a brass quintet and organ

Music Director: Jason Max Ferdinand

UMD Choral Activities: The program is led by choral-conducting alumnus Jason Max Ferdinand, D.M.A. ’15, and provides students with choral experiences spanning many musical styles and eras.

Day-of-event ticketing: Ticket sales and pickups are available only at Memorial Chapel beginning at 7:00 p.m. on the day of the performance. The Clarice ticket office will not sell or provide event tickets for pickup that day.

Discounts: This event is not eligible for standard discounts, including packages, promotional codes, or free-ticket offers.

Accessibility: Available services include wheelchair-accessible seating, size-inclusive seating, large-print programs, assisted-listening devices, adult and child sensory packs, and quiet spaces. ASL interpretation, audio description, and captioning are available for select events or upon request at least six weeks in advance.