Chorus continues Candlelight

Drawing one circle followed by another, Chorus teacher Amy Davis subtlety reveals to her third period mixed chorus class that their Candlelight processional has been selected by Disney to perform, for the sixth consecutive year, on Friday Dec. 13.

“I drew a picture of Mickey on the board, next to the date,” Davis said. ‘They rejoiced with exceeding great joy. We got our first pick of date and time for performing.”

The members of the processional will only be attending the first half of school that day, taking a bus to Walt Disney World’s Epcot theme park, to perform an assortment of songs they have been practicing since the beginning of the year. The performance is held in Epcot’s America Gardens Theater, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

“My favorite songs are ‘Joy to the World’ and ‘O Holy Night,’” senior Katarina Karlsson said. “They’re really pretty.”

The performance consists of more than three hundred vocalists from high schools around the country, a full professional orchestra, and a famous narrator. Together they tell the story of Christmas, using music and lighting effects paired with special attire.

“This year our narrator will be Dennis Haysbert from the Allstate commercials and the TV show 24,” Davis said. “He has a really great voice for narrating, so I’m looking forward to it.”

In preparation, students of chorus started learning their songs in September, and will keep practicing them up to December. Everyone participating is required to perform the songs in front of Mrs. Davis, a practice referred to as “passing off.” One or two songs are passed off each week, and practices are held each Monday for girls, and Tuesdays for boys. Students have to learn nine songs for the performance.

“It’s a ton of fun. I can’t wait,” sophomore Devin Dolnik said. “This is my second year doing Candlelight. Last year it was a lot more fun than I had expected.”