LA GRANDE — In Peter Wordelman’s 34 years at Eastern Oregon University as a music professor, he’s had only two years without the Holiday Music Festival.

The first was 1991, his first year at EOU.

The second was 2020.

This year brings the 32nd annual The Observer’s Holiday Music Festival.

“We needed some kind of holiday collaboration,” Wordelman said, explaining his idea behind starting the music festival in 1992.

The first concerts featured EOU students as well as a local community choir, the Blue Mountain Barbershoppers and the La Grande High School choir.

Now more than 250 performers lend their voices and instruments to celebrate the season.

“It’s turned into a really good community event,” Wordelman said.

The Holiday Music Festival, sponsored by Koza Family Dental Care, includes two identical concerts.

The first is Saturday, Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m., and the second is Sunday, Dec. 8 at 3 p.m. Both are in McKenzie Theatre inside EOU’s Loso Hall.

Admission is $12 adults and $10 for students and seniors. Tickets are available at Red Cross Drug, the EOU Bookstore or online tickets ($12 for everyone) at eou.edu/music. Advanced ticket purchase is highly recommended.

“We always sell out,” Wordelman said.

The show

Each year, the Holiday Music Festival features EOU student performers and community members. The gala-type performance includes the Grande Ronde Symphony Orchestra, the EOU Chamber Choir, EOU’s 45th Parallel Ensemble, EOU African Drumming Group, EOU Fiddle Ensemble and the Grande Ronde Music Association Community Band and Choir.

“The festival features traditional holiday music from around the world and is a wonderful beginning to the holiday season,” Wordelman said.

Of the 250 total performers, 150 are adults from around Eastern Oregon who play with community music groups.

“We’re really lucky to have all those community ensembles,” he said.

He said the festival atmosphere is boosted with decorations by Fitzgerald Flowers and special lighting.

“It looks fantastic,” he said.

All proceeds from the event go to the music funds held in the EOU Foundation for scholarships and equipment.