Annual concert bringing together church and community choirs for soul-stirring music, spoken word, and movement, celebrating Black musical traditions.
A Soulful Christmas returns to Marian Anderson Hall on Tuesday, December 8, at 7:30 PM. It's Ensemble Arts Philly's annual holiday tradition, now in its 13th edition, and it's exactly what the name says: a gathering of regional church and community choirs, performers and clergy coming together for one night.
The evening is built around Black musical traditions. You'll hear holiday spirituals and gospel favorites, with spoken word and movement woven in between. It's not just singers on a stage; the lineup includes dancers, musicians and African drummers, so the sound is backed by a good deal of movement. The whole thing builds toward the 'Finale of Lights,' the concert's signature closing.
Dr. J. Donald Dumpson created and directs the show, and he's back this year to lead the gathering of regional performers and clergy. He's spent years focusing on the richness of Black musical traditions, and that's what he brings to the program—spirituals, gospel, and inspirational messages of goodwill shared across the different choirs and voices on stage. The concert is part of Ensemble Arts Philly's 2026 holiday season.
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It's at Marian Anderson Hall, inside The Kimmel Center at 300 S Broad St in Philadelphia. The show starts at 7:30 PM on Tuesday, December 8.
Date
Tuesday, 8 December 2026
19:30
Price
Paid
Recommended Age
+14 years
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