On Dec. 15 the Aliso Niguel Madrigals, Bella Cantore and Concert Choir performed at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church for their annual holiday concert.
The Aliso Choral Program under the direction of Jason Harney had a variety of holiday-related pieces, ranging from classic Christmas carols to more traditional songs of hope and love throughout the season.
The concert opened with a piece titled “The Yearning” arranged by Craig Courtney, which was performed as a combined piece with students from all three choirs.
After the opening song, the students transitioned into the first set performed by the Madrigals, Aliso’s top choir. The transition song was a round arrangement of “Christmas is Coming (The Goose is Getting Fat)” which led directly into the Madrigal’s first song “Joy to the World!,” per tradition.
The Madrigals proceeded to sing well-known Carols such as “Carol of the Bells,” as well as a traditional Christmas song in Latin titled “O Magnum Mysterium” with Junior Ben Nelson as a bass soloist. The Mads set finished off with “S’Vivon,” a traditional Hanukkah song arranged by Betty Berteaux.
The following set was performed by the Concert Choir who opened with a traditional Spanish Carol titled “Riu Riu Chiu” which they sing yearly. The following piece was a heartwarming winter song titled “Winter With You” with soloist Maddy Chu, and the set finished off with the Christmas classic, “Winter Wonderland.”
Bella Cantore is a recently reestablished choir at ANHS and is a Treble Choir. The class had been on a small hiatus since the Covid lockdowns, but they made their reappearance this semester for the first time since 2020. They opened with “Glow,” a song used at Disneyland’s “World of Color,” followed by another traditional Latin holiday song, “Confitemini Domino.”
The final two songs were a hit amongst the audience as Bella Cantore sang “Little Child, Precious Child,” a song which Harney dedicated to his daughter who has recently become a mother. The set finished with “Sleigh Ride,” a well-known music piece also performed by the ANHS concert and marching band at their holiday concert the night before.
Another new addition to this year’s choir program is the Acapella Club, “The Treble Threats,” a student club founded and run by this year’s choir president Chanel Simpson (12). They sang arrangements of songs including “Last Christmas,” “Mele Kalikimaka” and “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy,” all of which they performed with no instrumental accompaniment.
Simpson has been in choir and under the direction of Mr. Harney for six years now.
She states, “Being in Madrigals is fun because you find people that are so dedicated to making music to a high level! We do fun songs but also complicated pieces that test our abilities. We bond over these things and become a family where a different connection is formed from anything I have ever experienced.”
The final set before the finale piece was performed by the Madrigals, opening with the crowd favorite of the night, “I Want to Stare at My Phone With You,” a song all about the holidays while being glued to technology. Harney had the students bring their own devices onto the stage, act out scenarios and sing while typing away.
“It was hilarious to sing and act out. It’s super fun and energetic and has always been a crowd favorite,” says Madrigal Sophie Lowery (11).
The Madrigals finished their set with carols “Jingle Bells,” “We Wish You A Merry Christmas” and “The Gift”.
“Silent Night” is the Choir’s traditional finale for their Holiday concert and is performed by all three choirs on stage. Harney even invites previous Aliso Niguel Choral alumni who have come back to watch the program throughout the years.
This arrangement of “Silent Night” has both the English and traditional German lyrics with a solo performed by Chanel Simpson as the seniors of that year step out and light each other’s candles before ceremonially blowing them out at the song’s end.
The ANHS choral music concert is a staple in the community holiday season for it demonstrates the talent of many students on campus, as well as expands the audience’s knowledge of the holiday’s history.
