By Alexandra Dalton
Staff Writer
The crowd murmuring softly as the Winter Choir concert is reaching its beginning time of 7:30 p.m. The room in the Black Box Theatre is extremely full, parents having to squeeze in on the aisle for a look at the show that is about to be before them.
The audience silenced as the guest performers Coppell Middle School North Select Treble choir subtly stepped on to the risers in the theater. All 25 members of this choir started with the soft sounds the tune “Winter Songs”, which is a combination of some classic holiday favorites.
Next the Treble choir welcomed the crowd with an assembly of songs including “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”, “Carol of the Bells” and “O Tannenbaum”. These pieces exemplified the incoming classes range of tones, and how their young faces did not match their sweet yet mature voices. As they exited the stage, the Bella Voce choir set up for its section of the show.
The youngest girls choir on campus, the Bella Voce choir, then came on to make their debut with “Laudamaus Te”. Next, “The Wild Geese” piece was moving and emotional, showing the singers passion with every whole-hearted breathe. The showstopping finale was a number titled “There is Faint Music” which showcased soloist freshman Layne Allen, freshman Sky Breedlove, freshman Allison Davis and sophomore Sydney Legee.
Sadly the Madrigals section of the winter showcase was canceled due to five sick students, but that did not hinder senior Linden Smith from astonishing the audience with a stunning piano version of “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”.
The sensational Kantorei girls choir was up next to represent the winter pieces they had been hard at work on. Starting with a short piece “Patapan”, the Kantorei choir showed off their unique skills with quick chants and fast spoken quips. “Patapan” was the most brilliant piece, thrilling the audience.
For their next piece, violinist junior Paskalina Bourbon and junior Albert Park helped them out with “The Snow”, creating a piece more somber than the others, but unparalleled to any other choirs performance. Putting the number together classically, the next performance was “Jerusalem Luminosa” which had chilling results due to high, controlled short clips of speech.
Smith was up again with another creative take on “Favorite Things”, piano edition.
The CMS North Men’s choir did a spirited “Melody for Christmas”, which was in sync and very cute.
The CHS Men’s choir then came on with the focused talent of 25 boys from grades nine through 12. They were able to pull of “Tolite Hostias”, “Still, Still, Still” and “Rise up, Shepherd, and Follow”.
“Still, Still, Still” soloist junior Bo Anderson, junior DeVon Hawkins, sophomore Adreesh Roy and freshman Kenneth Simmons were able to take lead and represent the men’s in a great light. “Rise up, Shepherd, and follow” seemed to fit this choir best with its deep undertones.
The final boys section was finished off with the combination of the CHS and CMS North choir singing an edition including clapping of “African Noel” which won them an standing ovation.
Women’s A Cappella choir performed “What sweeter music” using their own edition of sweet and high voices. Then joined by the whole A Cappella choir, they sang pieces “Bogoroditse Djevo” and “Lux Aurumque”. Their final song “Salvator Natus Est” was both jaw dropping in it’s intensity, fines and also perfectly toned as both men and women were joined. The piece was joined by Mr. Brown, who added the classic sound to the mix.
The winter show ended with a combination of Pinkerton originated African themed Zimma Rimba group containing members in grades fourth through 12th and the CHS a Cappella choir. Marimbas made out of plastic pipes were are the Zimma Rimbas instrument of choice. The ending piece, a special version of Gloria, was both ethnic and soulful. It was perfect ending to a musically sound performance.
