The Borealis Chorale and Orchestra will present its annual winter concerts on Friday, December 12, and Saturday, December 13, at 7 p.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Grand Marais. Admission is free, with a suggested donation of $10–$20 to support the ensemble’s work in the community. 

Now in its 65th year, the Borealis Chorale and Orchestra is one of Cook County’s longest-running community arts traditions. Founded in the late 1950s by pianist and educator Ora Wilcox, the ensemble has evolved through generations of local directors, musicians, and singers, remaining a cherished space where youth and adults perform side by side. 

This year’s program, “Angels Among Us,” is dedicated to Mark Abrahamson and features works by several acclaimed regional composers, including Bill Beckstrand, Abbie Betinis, and Linda Kachelmeier. Under the direction of Karina Roth, the ensemble blends the voices and talents of longtime community members with those of new and younger participants, creating a rich musical experience that resonates across ages. 

Roth, a pianist, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist, is committed to fostering intergenerational music-making. Many performers return year after year, including musicians with decades of experience as well as students discovering choral and orchestral performance for the first time. 

For more than six decades, the Borealis Chorale and Orchestra has provided Cook County audiences with winter performances that celebrate musical excellence and community connection. This year’s concerts promise that same spirit of meaning and wonder. 

Event Details 

Dates: Friday, December 12 & Saturday, December 13 

Time: 7 p.m. 

Location: Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 417 1st Ave. W., Grand Marais, MN 

Admission: Free; suggested donation $10–$20 

For more information, please visit northshoremusicassociation.com.