Written By: Miles Watts, Spotlight Staff
PERFORMANCE: Poly’s annual festive winter choir concert was performed in our theater with many soloists and dances.
As the weather becomes colder and the year comes to a close, festive tunes resurface and many VAPA groups perform Christmas songs. This is no exception to Poly’s choir as Wednesday, December 6th was the choir’s winter concert. This event is beloved by members and audiences alike for its relaxed and festive atmosphere. “Everybody’s in a better mood in these concerts because it’s not as stressful as academic songs” Nyla Dadsi (10), 1st chair soprano in Bella Voce, comments. The energy was still excited as audience members lined up outside the theater and eagerly awaited hearing these talented vocalists sing.
After paying a small entrance fee, people are greeted by the affable booster parents running concessions and entering the theater. ASB was also handing out free shirts outside the lobby for anyone who wanted one. After a brief introduction, Bella Voce walks onto the stands, Concert Choir stands in front of the stage, and Chamber Singers stand along the walls where the audience sits, all groups sing “Sing Out the Season.” After the song finishes, all groups except Bella Voce leave and the choir sings “Up On the Housetop” alone. Then Concert Choir enters as Bella Voce leaves and they warble “Carol of the Bells.” They sing two more songs, “Light of the Candles” and “A La Media Noche,” with the latter getting an introduction and being described as an upbeat, Latin song. The choir teacher, Ms. Walton then thanked the audience for attending the concert as Concert Choir exited and said this is her favorite event because she loves Christmas music. She then announced the next performance, which was a quartet performing the pentatonic version of “White Winter Hymnal.” After the lively song concludes, they leave and Chamber Singers enter. Ms. Walton recognizes Nicholas Flores, Sydney Reed, and John White. She then turns toward the ensemble and the singers perform “Bidi Bom,” with soloist Kien Biggs, and the angelic “Silent Night.”
As Chamber Singers leave, soloist Allurabella Chandler sings “Where Are You Christmas,” with a backing track. After her performance came Nyla Dadsi, singing the jazzy “Winter Wonderland.” After the two soloists perform their festive songs, Bella Voce and Chamber Singers return and Ms. Walton announced that both groups will be going to Disneyland on the 11th of December and they sang at Alcott the morning after the concert and with Gage and A.B. Miller middle school in the evening. She then turns to face the choir students and they sing what they will be singing at Disneyland: “Making Christmas,” “Theme From Elf,” “There is a Santa Claus,” “Marshmallow World,” by Greg Bilben, “Mele Kalikima,” and the weird and hilarious “Fruitcake” after a skit is performed. Ms. Walton then announced that they would be singing “Christmas Cheese” which was a myriad of classic Christmas tunes. Kazoos were even used for one of the songs. After, the students leave and the audience patiently waits as some choir members pull the stands back and the piano is moved.
The third and final soloist, Hayden Mackintosh, performed “All I Want for Christmas is You:” then, Show Choir entered to perform “Sparkle Jolly Twinkle Jingly,” which was choreographed by Nicholas Flores. After their performance, the choir vice president Arianna Soto, and the booster president come onto the stage while all the choral ensembles either move onto the risers or on the walkways by the audience. The reason they were on stage was to draw winners for three different gift baskets. After the winners were drawn, all groups sang “There is a Santa Claus” while the Show Choir performed their choreography. This included Nicholas Flores throwing candy canes to the audience.
That concludes half of the annual choir winter concert, as they repeated the show at 8:00 p.m. but with soloists, Nicholas Flores singing “River,” Trista Brautigam performing “Silver Bells,” Pepper Petersen presenting “Hallelujah,” and Autumn and Violet Dawson performing a duet of the song, “Sister,” from “White Christmas.”
“I think we were very prepared,” comments Abygael Scott, 2nd soprano in Chamber Singers. It was apparent that all groups were by the excellent performance all groups gave. A very positive event, this recital sparks elation in audience members and choir students. “This concert makes me feel the most joy out of any of the other concerts,” Madison Jones, an alto in Chamber Singers. A very relaxed concert, this one will remain in the minds of those who watched it this holiday season and in the hearts of the performers as new memories are forged.