A CHRISTMAS CONCERT FROM ST. JOSEPH CATHEDRAL IN SIOUX FALLS, S.D., TO BE BROADCAST CHRISTMAS EVE, THURSDAY, DEC. 24, ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK

December 1, 2009 by J!-ENT

A special Christmas Concert, “Christmas at The Cathedral – Beacon of Hope” with highlights from the 13-year concert series, will be broadcast Christmas Eve, Thursday, Dec. 24 (11:35 PM- 12:35 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

For over a decade, an interfaith audience has been welcomed to “Christmas at the Cathedral,” an event filled with music and song that focuses on the universal story of the Prince of Peace. A prayerful message and Christmas blessing will be lead by the Bishop of the Diocese of Sioux Falls, The Most Reverend Paul J. Swain. The concert’s setting is St. Joseph Cathedral, the seat of the diocese, which covers 35,000 square miles east of the Missouri River.

Romanesque and Renaissance in style, St. Joseph Cathedral was built from 1917-1919 and designed by renowned architect Emanuel Masqueray. It is considered one of the most prominent structures in South Dakota. Referred to as a “Beacon of Hope,” the Cathedral is an imposing limestone building with two great towers. From its location high atop a natural ridge overlooking the city of Sioux Falls, the Cathedral can be seen for miles.

“Christmas at The Cathedral – Beacon of Hope” features the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Henry Charles Smith; tenor Scott Piper, sopranos Emily Lodine and Stacey Stofferahn; with concert pianist Paul Sanchez, triplet trumpeters the Stonebach Sisters, and the St. Joseph Cathedral Choir and Men’s Schola. Special guests include a multi-cultural children’s choir from the Sioux Falls Catholic Schools, who will bring a candlelit section dedicated to peace in the world as part of an inspirational climax. Actor Tom Roberts shares a special Christmas story and video by Kirby Schultz to enrich this moving concert broadcast.

Mark Conzemius is the Producer of the concert, John P. Blessington is Executive Producer for CBS.