Magnificent Upper School Christmas Concert Featuring Our Choirs
On Thursday, December 9, the PCA 7th & 8th Grade and High School Choirs presented their annual Christmas concert to a full house. This year many of the songs surrounded the theme of Peace. “Every school year I choose a fruit of the spirit for myself and the choirs to focus on. This year, we have focused on Peace - peace with God, peace with each other and peace within ourselves”, says Choir Director, Kathy Thames.
The evening began with a beautiful arrangement of “Mary, Did You Know” featuring many 8th grade soloists, followed by traditional favorites “Swingle Bells” and “Carol of the Bells” accompanied by talented 8th grader, Hank Sanders. The 7th grade Choir set a peaceful tone with the popular, “Christmas Canon” and Messiah’s “For Unto Us a Child”. Several standout soloists led their final song of “A Christmas Hallelujah”, which tells the true meaning of Christmas- the story of the birth, life and death of Jesus.
Following the middle school, the High School Choir ladies ensemble delighted our audience with the beautiful John Rutter original, “Angel’s Carol.” Our high school men followed up with a fun and entertaining rendition of “Mele Kalikimaka” complete with Hawaiian shirts and Santa hats. Seniors Bella Byham, Charlee Olson and AnnaJaye Walters joined their voices for an amazing trio of God Rest You Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings. Zella Horton & Ian Marlow led the Choir in Chris Tomlin’s new Christmas song “His Name Is Wonderful”. This song echoed the 7th grade song, “For Unto Us” in which Isaiah is quoted “and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Staying on the theme of peace, juniors Will Wheeler and Gabe Clark joined their voices to beautifully sing “The Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth”. Senior Charlee Olson sang the solo this year in “O Holy Night” which is always sung in the PCA Christmas Concert. The evening concluded with the traditional singing of the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s Messiah. This year several talented PCA upper school teachers and PCA Choir alumni joined in the Hallelujah, making the finale even more powerful and meaningful.
Thank you to all of our Choir students for setting our hearts and minds on the PEACE that can only be found in Christ! Thank you to all of the families who came out to support our choirs!