‘Tis the season for the Holiday Choral Concert
MCHS choirs to sing several holiday favorites during Dec. 20 concert
The Morris Community High School Choirs will present their annual “Carol Vespers” Holiday Choral Concert on Sunday, Dec. 20.
The concert will begin at 2 p.m. in the high school auditorium.
Members of the combined MCHS Choirs will open the concert with the traditional carol of “Joy to the World, ” arranged by Frank Kuykendall with brass and percussion by the MCHS Brass Ensemble.
They will also perform Randall Thompson’s “Nowell” from The Nativity According to Saint Luke. It will include the vocal quartet of Hayley Robinson, soprano; Jessica Galang, alto; Jacob O’Marrah, tenor; and Nick Martorano, bass.
In addition, the choirs will perform “Bashana Haba’ah” by Nurit Nirsch, a celebration of peace for the New Year; “Ule Lume Lagedale” (Over Snowy Winter Roads), an Estonian folk song, arranged by Ken Berg; and “Wintertime Cheer,”a contemporary holiday arrangement by Jay Althouse.
The MCHS Men’s Choir will perform “O Tannenbaum” (Oh, Christmas Tree), the familiar German carol, arranged by Alice Parker and Robert Shaw, featuring Sam Bennet, tenor. They will also perform the traditional favorites “Do You Hear What I Hear” arranged by Harry Simeon; and “Go Tell It on the Mountain, arranged by Ron Jeffers.
The two female ensembles will also perform. The White Ensemble will perform the Austrian carol “As Lately We Watched” from Five Christmas Carols, arranged by David Stocker, and “Winter Celebration” by Audrey Snyder.
The Maroon Ensemble will perform the French carol “Un Flambeau, Jeanette Isabelle (Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella),” arranged by Richard Osborne, and “Snowflakes” by Jackie O’Neill.
The two ensembles will close with the joint selection “Christmas Is A Feeling,” a recent selection by Natalie Sleeth.
The MCHS Women’s Choir will perform the John Rutter selection “Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day” from Dancing Day. They will also perform “The Carol of the Rose” from The Place of the Best by Randall Thomspon. The song will feature the soprano duet of Charlotte Ulrich and Alora Carlson, and the alto duet of Madelyn Flood and Molly Dolan.
The Women’s Choir will conclude with seasonal favorite “Snow, Snow Beautiful Snow” by Sherm Feller with the vocal duet of Caitlyn Simpson, soprano, and Maggie Roth, alto.
The MCHS Madrigal Singers will perform several traditional holiday favorites, including “Caroling, Caroling” by Alfred Burt; the Ukranian Christmas carol “Carol of the Bells” by Leontovich & Wilhousky; and the contemporary American novelty “Good King Kong Looked Out” by P.D.Q. Bach. They will finish their set with the English carol “The Holly She Bears a Berry,” arranged by James E. Clemens.
The newly-formed MCHS Chamber Singers will perform three John Rutter seasonal classics, including “Good Ale” from When Icicle Hang (1975); “What Sweeter Music” (1988); and, “The Very Best Time of Year” (1985).
The combined choirs will complete the concert by performing a medley of American standard holiday favorites, including “White Christmas” by Irving Berlin; “Silver Bells” by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans, featuring the vocal duet of Brianna Sams and Logan Simpson; “Let It Snow, Let It Snow” by Julie Styne; and “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” by Eddie Pola and George Wyle.
The concert will conclude with the traditional singing of the “Hallelujah” a chorus from George Frederick Handel’s oratorio, Messiah.
Members of the MCHS Symphonic Band accompanying the choirs will include Breanna Black and Kyle Jorstad, trumpet; Lauren Hausken and Taylor Wolfer, trombone; and Jake Breen and Shana Cook, percussion. Mr. Donald Stinson conducts the MCHS Bands.
Lauren Hausken will present holiday piano favorites prior to the performance.
The concert is free and open to the public.
