Christ Church Hosts Annual Chorus Holiday Concert
The stage is set and two girls in red glimmering dresses are standing on either side of the marble floored platform. The one with blonde hair opened her mouth and started to sing and the concert had begun.
On Dec. 12, Bella Voce and Show Choir came together at Christ Church to put on a show long prepared for.
“Well we planned out the repertoire for the concert back in August and usually when its around July time, it’s time to plan out Christmas music,” Chorus Director Eric Wilkinson said. “So we’re working hard everyday, outside of school, and in the evenings in rehearsals and a lot of work.”
The winter concert included the traditional holiday songs like “Silent Night” and “Carol of the Bells,” but there were also pieces like “I himmelen” and “Requiem, KV. 626,” each of which displayed unique qualities and required concentration and dedication from everyone in both choirs.
“The Mozart (Requiem, KV. 626), we’ve been doing since summer; it was a summer project. So we’re working on the whole composition: the whole Mozart Requiem-which is a 54 minute song- for a concert at the Gailliard in January,” Senior Show Choir member Julia McLaughlin said.
And after months of practice and hours of rehearsal, the directors were proud of everyone’s perseverance and growth since first beginning their individual choir careers at Wando.
“I’m on a total high right now — it’s just unbelievable. I’m super proud of them and they did everything the way we wanted it to go and it was really awesome,” Wilkinson said.
Both choirs were able to release their nerves and energy in the final song “Betelehemu” which included instrumental accompaniment, clapping and a solo by Senior John Ryan.
Other soloists in the concert included Priscilla Krewatch, Grae Gosnell, Kindred Moored, Alex Hodges and Julia McLaughlin. In addition, others with solos included Clara Morse, Becca Boensch, Hayden Turner, Ashley Stewart, Jaclyn Wiggins, Maribeth Kern, Melissa Henderson and Nick Seiffer. Additional soloists included Hannah Tompkins, Jackie Frye, Bri Evangelist, Madison Frank, Emma Smith and Maggie Beauston.
