THE CHOIR’S CAROLS

Everyone has a favorite holiday song, whether it’s a classic like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer or Mariah Carey’s “All I Want

For Christmas is You.” Whichever song you hold close to your heart, the Columbus North Show Choir brings these songs and memories to life in the winter concert, under the instruction of choir director, Jennifer

Gafron

“When a choir sings together, everyone’s heart beats the same.

It is the most connected to others I have ever felt,” Gafron said. “Since music is already a more emotional subject, it puts me in a position where I can be available to my students whenever they need.”

One of those students is senior

Morgan Allen. She has had a passion for choir since fourth grade, and a talent for show choir since ninth grade.

“I love choir because of the family that I have gained through it. In

January we will be going to show choir competitions, which means

I get to spend all day doing what

I love with the people that I love,” Allen said. “We are always goofing around, laughing, singing, dancing, and just having a good time. I know I can be myself around these people and the added bonus is just performing.”

As a senior, this will be Allen’s last Winter Concert here at North, so she plans to make it one she can cherish forever.

“I am super excited because since I am a senior, this is the last Christmas concert that I will be performing in, which makes the night even more magical,” Allen said. “There is a spirit that comes with singing Christmas songs that is unexplainable, especially when sharing that joy with my friends and family. I know that there is still a lot of work that needs to be done, but everybody is putting in the effort to make the night truly incredible.”

The show choir performed a wide variety of holiday music, including “Bring Me Love” by John Legend, “Like It’s Christmas” by the Jonas Brothers, “Run, Rudolph, Run” by Chuck Barry, “All I Want for Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey, and more. Gafron’s personal favorite is a Hebrew song called “Erev Shel Shoshanim”. Although the choir will not be performing this piece this year, Gafron still loves it.

“Choirs sing it often in this time of the year not because it is necessarily associated with Hanukkah, but because it is a nice contrast to always only singing songs about Christmas,” Gafron said. “I like to be representative of the community we are performing in, and as not all community members (or choristers) are Christian, I like to provide variety in my programming.”

Whether it’s a favorite holiday treat, song, or tradition, everyone has something that brings them joy this time of year. For Allen, it happens to be holiday decorations.

“There is something about the cute holiday decorations that just lifts my spirit and makes me immediately in a better mood,” Allen said. “I could stare at a Christmas tree forever just because of the beauty of it. All of the music and winter smells also contribute to the spirit of Christmas that makes me the happiest.”

“Bring Me Love” by John Legend “Like It’s Christmas” by the Jonas Brothers “Run, Rudolph, Run” by Chuck Berry “Red Red Rose” “Mr. Grinch” ...and more!

photo by Isabel Fay

North’s girls choir, North Stars, poses at the end of their musical number of “Run, Run, Rudolf” in Columbus North’s Choir Winter Concert.