The Singing Hoosiers' "Holiday Chimes" concert, one of the most highly anticipated annual holiday music traditions at IU, returned to the IU Auditorium on Saturday. Two performances of the show offered audiences a festive production and a message of holiday cheer and community.
In the temporary absence of director Chris Albanese, assistant directors Lida Bourhill and Ben Wegner took the reins this concert season. With only about three weeks between their fall concert and the “Holiday Chimes” show, the ensemble faced a quick turnaround when it came to learning music and choreography ahead of Saturday’s performances.
The result was a 16-piece program of about two hours, split into two acts.
In a flurry of red sequins and black tuxedos, the Singing Hoosiers opened the first act with a jubilant performance of Anita Cracauer’s “Everything Red and Green,” accompanied by a live band led by Leah Warman, a Jacobs School of Music graduate. The piece featured energetic choreography and vocal solos from 10 singers, offering the most featured solos out of all the pieces in the program.
The program's next several pieces were delivered without choreography, with the ensemble standing positioned on risers. In an effort to incorporate the holiday traditions of different cultures, the ensemble performed the Spanish piece "Gala Del Dia" by Carlos Gustavino and Arturo Vazquez Cey. Then then launched into an a cappella delivery of "O Jerusalem in the Morning," a traditional spiritual tune about the story of the birth of Jesus, which highlighted the ensemble's acute vocal ability and blend.
IU senior and Singing Hoosiers marketing manager Leah Corcoran said “O Jerusalem in the Morning” allowed the ensemble to be especially deliberate with their vocal dynamics and delivery.
“There are so many beautiful rhythms and moments for power and intensity within it, and then it just draws back into stillness,” Corcoran said. “Which is so cool for us as musicians to be able to do.”
In another nod to diverse holiday celebrations, the group also performed the Hebrew piece “The Everlasting Flame,” which celebrates Hanukkah. The ensemble’s reverent vocals were joined by a delicate harp accompaniment, performed by IU musician Margaret Hodes.
Junior ensemble member Olivia Jabczynski named “The Everlasting Flame” as a piece in the program that helped her improve vocally as a second soprano.
“It is such a beautiful song, but it is very challenging,” Jabczynski said. “Finding those harmonies as a soprano two has helped me refine my skills a lot.”
SHAcapella, ResoluSHion and the Varsity Dancers, the three smaller ensembles within the Singing Hoosiers, were each given a piece throughout the concert to showcase their respective abilities, with the latter two groups performing “Jingle Bells” and “Sleigh Ride,” respectively. The first of the three was SHAcapella, the a cappella ensemble, which performed an a cappella arrangement of Renee Rapp’s “Snow Angel.”
The show’s first act concluded with a high-energy rendition of “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town.” Both the arrangement and performance were inspired by the popular Mariah Carey rendition of the song, with elaborate choreography and movements throughout the stage.
As intermission came to a close and the curtain fell, a snow-covered city scene was projected onto the screen behind the ensemble. Accompanied by band director Ryan Kelly and the Jacobs Wind Ensemble, the Singing Hoosiers delivered a medley of classic holiday carols with "A Christmas Festival." The piece included snippets from "Joy to the World," Deck the Hall," "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," "Hark! The Harold Angels Sing" and "Jingle Bells."
A couple of pieces later, the entire ensemble emerged clothed in a variety of cozy winter sweaters and jeans to perform “Selections from the Polar Express,” arranged by Audrey Snyder and Paul Murtha. The medley included “Hot Chocolate,” “Believe” and “Spirit of the Season,” complete with full choreography. The fast-paced “Hot Chocolate” section of the medley also featured a spirited dance break by a small group of tap dancers.
Jabczynski predicted the piece would be a crowd favorite, something that was confirmed when the medley was met with loud applause from the audience.
“I feel like the audience is really going to enjoy ‘The Polar Express’ medley, just because it’s so nostalgic, especially for people my age,” Jabczynski said.
Following the medley, the ensemble performed “There is a Santa Claus” from “Elf the Musical.” Both theatrical and playful, the piece has been performed by the Singing Hoosiers for the past several years. Another piece that has become a Singing Hoosiers tradition was “Sleigh Ride,” a performance that featured the Varsity Dancers accompanied by the Wind Ensemble.
Senior Jack Lengerich, a member of the Varsity Dancers, said this is the first year “Sleigh Ride” has been a choreographed piece.
“The choreo is really intense and very ballet-heavy,” Lengerich said. “In years past, it has been just a Wind Ensemble thing, but this year they wanted to have choreo on stage during it.”
In keeping with “Holiday Chimes” annual traditions, the ensemble closed the show with Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas.” Snow effects fluttered onto the stage midway through the performance, eliciting gasps and applause from the audience.
“I think a lot of people really enjoy ‘White Christmas,’ especially the returners,” Lengerich said. “It’s just such a classic and it’s so much fun, and it always closes out our show. It’s a big surprise for the audience and a big crowd-pleaser.”
The Singing Hoosiers will perform their Spring Concert on Mar. 28 at the Musical Arts Center. More information and updates about the group can be found at the Singing Hoosiers’ Instagram page.
