131st Concert of Sacred Music Unites Generations in Song

Students, alumni, and faculty gathered in Memorial Chapel on May 3 to observe one of Northfield Mount Hermon's oldest enduring traditions, the Concert of Sacred Music. Since its inception in 1895, the concert has celebrated the arrival of spring, the enduring bonds of community and spirituality, and the power of song to unite and lead people through times of joy and hardship.

This year's concert featured music from across time and space, performed by the school's choral and instrumental groups, in addition to a special choir made up of alumni, who returned to campus to lend their voices to this special occasion.

"This year the music feels powerful in all senses of the word," said Alexandra Ludwig, NMH's choral director. "Some pieces are powerfully heartfelt, other pieces are powerfully joyful, and one piece is probably the most famous classical work on the planet, which is always a powerful experience to perform."

The 2026 Concert of Sacred Music began with words of welcome from Head of School Brian Hargrove, who spoke of the event's prominence within the legacy set forth by NMH's founder, D.L. Moody, and his musical director Ira Sankey, to establish NMH as a "singing school."

Hargrove acknowledged the evolution of the concert from a gospel event into its modern-day iteration, which embodies "diverse music selections representing many faiths and cultures" and offered his appreciation for longtime choral directors Albert Raymond and Sheila Heffernon — who conducted a combined 72 Concerts of Sacred Music — and the current music faculty, students, and alumni who continue to make it a signature event in the academic calendar.

He finished by inviting the assembled NMH community to add their voices to the choir when appropriate. "As we do, we will announce together that Northfield Mount Hermon stands as a light on the hill, united in our resolve to love, to serve, and lead with our hearts, our heads, and our hands."

With those words, the combined choirs and orchestra dove into pieces ranging from contemporary songs by Dolly Parton and Simon and Garfunkel to adaptations of poems by William Blake and Percy Bysshe Shelley, classical selections, modern arrangements by 20th-century composers, and NMH standards like "Let Freedom Span Both East and West," "Jerusalem," and the "Northfield Benediction."

Eavan Connelly '27, a violinist in the chamber orchestra, was excited to play composer Paul Basler's "Jambo." "It's a challenging piece rhythmically but working on it with the chamber has been a lot of fun."

For Anthony McNamara '26, it was the musical rendition of William Blake's "Tyger," arranged by British composer Alan Bullard, that most intrigued him. "To be honest, I didn't really like it at first, because it was really hard. The harmonies have a lot of dissonance. But as I rehearsed it more, I found that it was a really fun song to sing."

Part of the allure of large performances like the Concert of Sacred Music is the chance to be a piece in something greater than yourself, said Nan Browne '71, P'98, '02, a member of this year's alumni choir. "The students who prepare and participate in this realize, in time, that they become one instrument for the conductor," allowing for "the experience of being enveloped in a beautiful sound, meaningful in the moment."

Coming on the heels of NMH's Climate Action Week, this year’s concert included several songs that explored the dual nature of water as a life-sustaining and destructive element, specifically in the context of a changing climate. The program also touched on themes of war and peace, a nod to the unsettled state of global politics and the power of music as a healing influence in times of strife.

While Ludwig and Orchestra and Concert Band Director Steven Bathory-Peeler tend to shy away from overt themes when planning the concert’s set list, "inevitably there always seems to be threads that tie the whole program together," she said. "On the one hand, it's a happy coincidence; on the other hand, it's a sign that, more and more, music reflects the time we're living in. I think it's important for students to sing about topics that are alive for them."

The contemplation of world events and students' place within them, said Browne, who is also a former faculty member, reflects the school’s focus on intentionality.

"The mission of NMH is to stand out from the crowd in fostering students' development: the intellectual, the physical, and the humanitarian," she said. "Music finds a personal home in the participant and the observer — sometimes spiritual, sometimes restorative, or even political."

First presented in honor of D.L. Moody's mother, Betsey, the Concert of Sacred Music remains a hallmark of the NMH school year, heralding the final weeks of classes and linking the students of today to the school's legacy of song. 

"[The Concert of Sacred Music] was the first big concert I had at NMH," said Connelly. "For many instrumentalists, this concert is their first and last major performance with NMH. It's kind of a time of reflection for me, where I get to appreciate the friendships I've gained and built with my fellow musicians."

From the alumni perspective, Concert of Sacred Music offers an opportunity to reflect on the impact NMH has had on one's life, Browne said, and to rekindle one's connection with the school. "I have enjoyed Concert of Sacred Music as a student at Northfield, faculty member, parent, and alumni choir singer. It has always seemed a rare event to hear this school come together with music as the expression of their community."

Sarah Keator '26 said the concert is particularly poignant for members of the senior class as they get ready to begin the next leg of their life's journey. This year, Keator had the pleasure of singing alongside her mother, philosophy and religion teacher Jennifer Keator P'19, '20, '26, and her older sister, Marina '20.

"For me, it's really been about building connections with people," Sarah Keator said. "There's such a big variety of students in choir. I get to meet a lot of different people that I might not interact with in other ways. It's a fun way for us to wrap up our time together."

The opportunity for students to perform with those who walked these halls before them, while carving out their own place in the legacy of the school, is what makes Concert of Sacred Music such a signature tradition at NMH, said Ludwig.

"Students get to see that they can be lifelong singers and that the activity of being in a chorus brings joy and camaraderie," she said. "Alumni get to enjoy singing with young voices, relive memories, and continue to contribute to what makes NMH great."

— Max Hunt

Photography by Lindsey Topham. See more scenes from the 131st Concert of Sacred Music on Flickr.