Holiday Glow

The Hudson Community Choruses present their annual holiday concert on Sunday, December 3, at 4 p.m. at Christ Church Episcopal, 21 Aurora Street, Hudson. Three choruses, Adult, Youth and Children as well as a small Chamber choir will be highlighted both separately and in joint performances and join the audience for a festive sing-a-long.

This year’s concert includes a variety of traditional and contemporary pieces including Eric Whitacre’s Glow. Whitacre, who was in residence with the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus recently, is best known for his modern approach to choral music and his virtual choirs. Glowwas written for the World of Color Honor Choir as part of the World of Color show that premiered at Disney World in 2013.

The 50 plus member HCC Adult Choir will lead off the program with Gustav Holst’s traditional Christmas Day. The Adult and Youth Choirs will join together on Birthday Carol written by David Wilcocks. In recognition of the many musical contributions and in support of Ukraine, the chorus will highlight works from three Eastern European composers. The trio of pieces includes the popular Carol of the Bells which is based on a Ukrainian song called Shchedrk and was written by Mykola Leontovych in 1914. The men of the chorus are featured in the Ukrainian Alleluia by Craig Courtney while the chorus women take the stage for Joan Szymko’s, Hodie.

The Children’s and Youth choruses combine to perform Welcome Yule. The HCC Youth Chorus celebrates the winter season with Evergreen and then joins the Children’s Chorus for Ding Dong Merrily on High.

HCC’s Chamber Choir will sing Mary Did You Know? in an arrangement written and performed originally by Pentatonix as well as the beloved Christmas Song.

The Adult Chorus returns with a jazz version of Jingle Bells arranged by Harry Simeone.  Audience members can join in the fun in Audrey Snyder’s Holiday Sing Along and new rendition of Silver Bells. The concert mood slows with Whitacre’s Glow.

Maoz Tsur. (Rock of Ages) is believed to be the oldest Hanukkah song.  Sung each night of the eight-day festival after the lighting of the candles on the Menorah, it will be sung by the chorus in tribute to Jews worldwide. All three choruses join in the finale, Daniel Kantor’s moving Night of Silence/Silent Night.

The Hudson Community Adult Chorus is celebrating its 35th year as the area’s leading non-audition, community chorus. It is under the direction of Nathaniel Duvuvuei. Assistant Mario Buchanan accompanies the adult chorus as well as directing both the Children’s and Youth choruses. All three choruses welcome singers from eight to 80 plus from more than a dozen area communities. A 501(c)(3), HCC is a nonprofit organization, governed by a volunteer board of directors. In addition to its Holiday and Spring concerts, HCC leads the singing at Hudson’s Caroling on the Green, annually performs for the Akron Festival of Trees and other community programs. The choruses are funded through member and community gifts, the Hudson Kiwanis Foundation, the Hudson Community Foundation and through a sustaining grant from Peg’s Foundation and the Ohio Art’s Council.