On December 7, Trinity Western University welcomed audiences to the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts for its annual Christmas at the Chan celebration.
Families, students, alumni, and guests from across the Lower Mainland filled the hall for an afternoon of sacred music celebrating the joy of Christmas and the hope of the gospel.
Christmas at the Chan began 21 years ago through the partnership of Dr. Tom Chan, Mr. Chapman Chan, and former TWU director of choral activities Wes Janzen. Their desire was to bless the city of Vancouver through musical worship presented at the highest artistic standard. That vision continues today. Each December, the Chan Centre becomes a place where choirs and orchestral musicians come together to tell the story of Christ’s birth through music.
Gratitude for the Chan family and their investment
In his welcome, President Todd F. Martin invited the audience to reflect on the meaning of the season, saying, “We gather tonight to remember the most profound mystery and gift ever given. God Himself coming near to us.” He encouraged listeners to consider John 1:14: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”
President Martin also expressed his gratitude to the Chan family, whose generosity has allowed this tradition to grow and continue for more than two decades. Their ongoing support has enriched the musical education of TWU students while also strengthening the spiritual life and discipleship opportunities offered through the University.
Music shaped by Scripture and tradition
“Let it be our care and delight to prepare ourselves to hear again the message of the angels in heart and mind and to go even unto Bethlehem and see the Child born to be the Saviour of the world,” said Director Benjamin Ewert.
This year’s program blended classical works, contemporary compositions, congregational carols, and familiar Christmas favourites. The concert featured the TWU Chamber Choir and Masterworks Chorus, conducted by Dr. Benjamin Ewert, alongside the Langley Fine Arts School Chamber Choir directed by Jonny Michel and the Mennonite Educational Institute Concert Choir directed by Sonja Hindmarsh, with a full orchestra accompanying the choirs.
The afternoon opened with Dan Forrest’s arrangement of Joy to the World, setting the tone for a program that moved between proclamation and reflection. During Felix Mendelssohn’s Vom Himmel Hoch, choirs sang from balconies throughout the hall, surrounding the audience and highlighting the strength of the combined ensemble.
Taylor Scott Davis’s Magnificat followed and offered the audience a moment of contemplation. The program included Mary’s words, “My soul magnifies the Lord. My spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,” framing the piece in its biblical context in Luke 1.
After intermission, the program continued with Eric Whitacre’s arrangement of The First Nowell, before shifting toward lighter seasonal favourites such as Jingle Bell Rock.
A highlight of the afternoon came with Sing for Peace by Jim Papoulis and Francisco Núñez as the repeated refrain “For peace, for peace” echoed through the Chan Centre. The program concluded with Mendelssohn’s Hark the Herald Angels Sing. Many audience members joined in singing, and the final chord rose into a full standing ovation.
A celebration that gathers a city
Christmas at the Chan reflects more than the work of a single semester. It draws on more than twenty years of TWU’s choral tradition, shaped by international tours, professional collaborations, and performances across the world, including recent appearances in China. Artistic Director Dr. Benjamin Ewert, whose background includes directing choirs in Canada and the United Kingdom and completing advanced studies at Cambridge and the University of Alberta, captured the spirit of the evening when he said, “There is something for everyone, and you may just be surprised by what you find in this sack of musical presents.”
His words reflect what Christmas at the Chan has become for the city of Vancouver. It is a gathering of music, Scripture, and community that continues to point hearts toward the hope of Christ.
About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is a global Christian liberal arts university dedicated to equipping students for life. Uniting faith and reason through Christian teaching and scholarship, TWU is a research institution offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in the humanities and sciences as well as in several professional schools. It has campuses in Canada in Langley, Richmond, and Ottawa. Learn more at www.twu.ca or follow us on Instagram @trinitywestern, Twitter @TrinityWestern, on Facebook and LinkedIn. For media inquiries, please contact: media@twu.ca.