Tyler Stauffer photoOn Sunday, Dec. 13, at 2 p.m., the aisles of the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center were filled with the glow of candlelight.

This was the opening to the Mercyhurst College Concert Choir’s winter program titled “Vivaldi, Choirs, and Carols.”

After a candlelight processional to the tune “O Come Emmanuel,” the choir sang Antonio Vivaldi’s “Magnificat.” The “Magnificat” featured many student soloists and a small chamber orchestra comprised of students, alumni and adults.

This was a very difficult program for the choir to learn.

“All our hard work paid off,” freshman Alianna Whiteaker-Chudecke said.

“Performing the concert was an extremely rewarding end to a very challenging and demanding term of learning music,” junior Lynn Dula said.

Then the choir followed up with Vivaldi’s “Domine Ad adjuvandum me festina.” This piece featured senior Katie Podyma singing a solo movement entitled “Gloria Patri.”

The Carpe Diem Chorale then mixed things up again by singing a selection of a cappella Christmas carols including “Deck the Halls” and the “Wassail Song.”

Following the carols, the program featured works by student composer Jonatan Estrada. Both “Come, Joyful Children” and “O, Holy Night” were arranged by Estrada and featured guest soloist Daniel Cabanillas.

To wrap up the program, the audience joined in with the choir in singing “O Come All Ye Faithful,” “The First Nowell” and “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”

“I personally enjoyed when the audience sang along to the carols. After all the hard work everyone put into it, it was nice to see it all come together so nicely,” sophomore Alyssa Boxer said.
Tyler Stauffer photo
However, the Concert Choir was not done yet. At 7 p.m. they performed the program at Immanuel Lutheran Church with their Adult Choir. The Choir will perform again at Mercyhurst Northeast on Wednesday, Dec. 16, at 7 p.m.