The St. Thomas music department was nominated for a 2014 Upper Midwest Emmy award for its 2013 Christmas concert, “A St. Thomas Christmas: All is Well,” but the St. Olaf choir won it Sept. 13.

Angela Broeker, artistic director and choir conductor, said she was surprised by the nomination and was not anticipating the honor but said the nomination had been a long time coming.

“It’s always nice to see the music department recognized,” Broeker said. “We’ve worked quite diligently over the past 20 years to make this a program that has a national reputation and is respected, so it’s great to have that confirmation through the Emmy nomination.”

Broeker said the department’s Twin Cities Public Television contact submitted the show with an application, and then the concert became part of the pool selected for nomination. She credited much of this success to the efforts of everyone involved.

“I think the show is successful because of the student commitment to the project,” she said.

But senior Meghan Lowe, a current Chamber Singers member and vocal performance major, attributed much of the program’s achievement to Broeker.

“I accredit it a lot to Dr. Broeker,” Lowe said. “We students need that leadership and she supplied that.”

Senior Chamber Singer Dan Saunders also credited much of the music department’s success to Broeker.

“She’s our leader, and she really sets the tone for all of us. She is what makes us put in that effort,” Saunders said.

Lowe said she has seen the department grow throughout her three years at St. Thomas.

“I am so grateful for the music department here and the opportunity to be a part of such a wonderful choir,” Lowe said. “The choir was one of the main reasons I decided to come to St. Thomas.”

The St. Thomas Christmas concerts have gained a national audience, Broeker said.

“Just having the Christmas concerts on TV … gives a national audience that gets to know the University of St. Thomas as well as its music program,” Broeker said. “It’s a great outreach for the larger national community.”

While she is proud of last year’s concert, Broeker said she is looking ahead to the upcoming Christmas concert.

“We had a piece commissioned for this year’s Christmas concert. The new work was written by Joshua Bauder, who’s a 2010 (alumnus) of the music department,” Broeker said.

Lowe encouraged all students to attend the concert because it is an “experience.”

“You have to see it live. Recordings and videos are great, but to be in that moment with the choir will never happen again,” Lowe said. “Every performance is different. It’s a once in a lifetime and you can’t replace that.”

This year’s concert, “A St. Thomas Christmas: Light of Light,” will take place Dec. 7, at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis.

Kathleen Murphy can be reached at murp0003@stthomas.edu.