A celebration of winter: Magnolia Chorale performing variety of songs in holiday concert
When Joseph To took over as Magnolia Chorale director this fall, his plans for the choir included promoting a mission of diversity, equity and inclusion.
His inaugural winter holiday program, “Good Tidings — A Global Celebration,” features a lineup that aligns with his philosophy for the chorale and features a variety of songs from different cultures across the globe.
“It is a concert about reflection, celebrations and togetherness, and we hope that our audience will enjoy the music and the community as much as we do,” To said.
This year, the chorale will perform two concerts, at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 9 and 2 p.m. on Dec. 11 at Magnolia United Church of Christ (3555 W. McGraw St.). The event is free, but goodwill donations to support the chorale are welcome.
Corinne Reschenthaler, Magnolia, joined the chorale at the beginning of the season and said she is excited to sing in a choir again after 15 or so years, since she attended college.
“It’s nice to have a reason to do it as an adult and get together with people,” she said.
Reschenthaler said the Magnolia Chorale is a nice group of people who all take it very seriously. She also appreciates To’s direction and enthusiasm.
“He has a lot of passion and a lot of energy,” she said.
Reschenthaler said when she first joined she presumed the winter concert would feature many traditional religious pieces, but she was pleased to see the array of songs, including two Hanukkah songs, “Boruch Atoh” and “Hanerot Halalu,” which she appreciates because she is Jewish.
Reschenthaler, a soprano, said she also enjoys performing “Ukrainian Alleluia,” which she said is poignant and beautiful.
Other songs include “African Noel,” which is a traditional spiritual, an Estonian carol, and a Colombian and Spanish carol, among others.
To said the concert also features “Fantasia on Christmas Carols,” by Vaughan Williams, which he said is a classic and will feature Robert Wise, whom To describes as an emerging baritone,” as a soloist. The chorale will also feature a string quartet and organ during the concert.
In addition to “Ukrainian Alleluia,” the chorale is dedicating two other songs to Ukraine “hoping that they will find peace and love in the winter season,” To said.
To said he wanted to feature songs that show how different cultures celebrate winter across the globe in his first concert for the chorale.
“Wintertime should be about celebrating one another,” he said. “It’s a time for people in the world to come together, I think.”
Bill Zachary, who has been a member of the Magnolia Chorale since 1989, said this winter holiday concert, like so many others, is a strong lineup and features a variety of songs that he hopes inspire people. He said he wants people to attend and experience the music with the chorale.
“I just want someone to feel it, not just hear it, but feel it,” Zachary said.
The Magnolia Chorale practices Sunday evenings at Magnolia United. New members are welcome. Visit magnoliachorale.org for more information.
“Good Tidings – A Global Celebration”
This year, the Magnolia Chorale will perform its winter concert at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 9 and 2 p.m. on Dec. 11 at Magnolia United Church of Christ (3555 W. McGraw St.). The event is free, but goodwill donations to support the chorale are welcome.
The concert features:
“African Noel,” a traditional spiritual; “Ule Lume Lagedale,” a traditional Estonian carol; two Hanukkah songs: “Boruch Atoh” and “Hanerot Halalu”; two medieval carols, “Gaudete,” from Piae Cantiones, and “Riu Riu Chiu,” a 16th century Spanish carol; “Go Lovely Rose,” by Halsey Stevens; a performance by a string quartet; three songs for Ukraine: “The Snow,” by Edward Elgar and featuring two violins, “Ukrainian Alleluia,” by Craig Courtney, and “Stars I Shall Find,” by David Dickau; “Fantasia on Christmas Carols,” by Ralph Vaughan Williams and featuring string quartet and organ; and “Velo Que Bonito,” a traditional Colombian carol.