The Sounds of Christmas Fill Westerly as Chorus and Orchestra Perform Hodie
At a Glance
What: Hodie (This Day): A Cantata for Christmas
When: Saturday, November 14, and Sunday, November 15, 2026
Times: Saturday, 6 p.m.; Sunday, 3 p.m.
Location: George Kent Performance Hall, 119 High Street, Westerly, RI 02891
Featuring: The Chorus of Westerly and Festival Orchestra
Music: Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Hodie and Gustav Holst’s Christmas Day
Soloists: Clara Osowski, mezzo-soprano; Andrew Bearden Brown, tenor; David McFerrin, baritone
Duration: Approximately 75 minutes
Admission: Ticketed event; check current pricing and availability
Tickets: Available through the Chorus of Westerly
Contact: (401) 596-8663
Email: info@chorusofwesterly.org
Event Description
Hodie (This Day): A Cantata for Christmas brings the Chorus of Westerly and its Festival Orchestra together for two performances celebrating the music and meaning of Christmas. On Saturday, November 14, at 6 p.m., and Sunday, November 15, at 3 p.m., George Kent Performance Hall will fill with the voices of the chorus, the sounds of a full orchestra, and three guest soloists performing one of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ major choral works.
The centerpiece of the concert is Hodie, a Christmas cantata that tells the story of the Nativity through biblical passages, poetry, and music. Written late in Vaughan Williams’ life and first performed in 1954, the composition combines powerful orchestral passages with moments of quiet reflection. The music moves through the Christmas story, from the announcement of Christ’s birth to expressions of joy and wonder, with the chorus and soloists taking turns carrying the narrative.
The program also features Gustav Holst’s Christmas Day, a choral work that brings together familiar Christmas carols in a lively musical setting. Holst, a longtime friend of Vaughan Williams, is best known for his orchestral suite The Planets, but his choral music reflects a deep interest in English musical traditions. Together, the two compositions offer audiences different interpretations of Christmas through the work of two important British composers.
Joining the Chorus of Westerly and Festival Orchestra are three accomplished vocal soloists: mezzo-soprano Clara Osowski, tenor Andrew Bearden Brown, and baritone David McFerrin. Their performances will add individual voices to the larger choral and orchestral presentation, helping bring the story and poetry of Hodie to life.
The setting is an important part of the experience. George Kent Performance Hall, the Chorus of Westerly’s home on High Street, is a historic former church that now serves as a concert venue. Its soaring interior provides a fitting setting for a work that combines the intimacy of individual voices with the full sound of a chorus and orchestra.
For audiences accustomed to traditional Christmas carols and holiday concerts, Hodie offers something a little different. Rather than a collection of familiar seasonal favorites, the cantata unfolds as an extended musical telling of the Christmas story. Its combination of poetry, scripture, and orchestral music makes it both a holiday celebration and an opportunity to experience a substantial work of classical music performed close to home.
The concert is expected to run approximately 75 minutes. With two performances scheduled, audiences can choose between Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon to enjoy this early celebration of the Christmas season in downtown Westerly.
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