On Dec. 2, Mercyhurst welcomed the Ten Tenors to spread some Christmas cheer to the Erie community.

The Ten Tenors, a 10-man choral ensemble from Australia, performed a wide range of selections in this “Home for the Holidays” show.

The group is known worldwide for its stunning tenor harmonies, so it was a gift to have them on campus for the evening.

They certainly did not disappoint.

The concert opened with a powerful rendition of “Joy to the World,” which was met with loud applause from the audience.

Even at the beginning of the concert, the audience’s energy and enthusiasm was high, and only increased as the evening progressed.

Following “Joy to the World” was “Adeste Fideles,” the Latin version of “O Come, All Ye Faithful.”

Other Christmas selections included “Walking in a Winter Wonderland,” Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” and of course Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”

Their performance of the traditional hymn “O Holy Night” was particularly moving.

However, the Ten Tenors did not limit themselves to Christmas songs.

Their performance of a medley of songs by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons was particularly thrilling, beautifully showcasing the higher end of the Tenors’ vocal range.

In the second half of the show, they performed “Bohemian Rhapsody,” earning a standing ovation for their rendition of this classic Queen song.

The Ten Tenors’ subtle yet effective choreography made their performance even more enjoyable and engaging.

Their actions were smooth and well-rehearsed, and it was clear to the audience that they had worked hard to create a wonderful show.

Additionally, each member of the group had a chance to shine, with brief solos interspersed among the group harmonies.

The Ten Tenors did not just show off their singing abilities, however — they also demonstrated a collective sense of fun.

They closed the first half of the show with a medley of famous female anthems, from Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” to Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off ” to Aretha Franklin’s “Respect.”

One notable strength of the group was their ability to transition seamlessly between more solemn pieces such as “O Holy Night” and energetic, fun songs such as “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

In any other show, the presence of vastly different songs may have led to a disjointed or uneven performance, but the Ten Tenors successfully crafted a show that contained a great diversity of music without losing any flow or effectiveness.

On sale after the show was a variety of Ten Tenors merchandise, from clothing to travel mugs.

Most importantly, the Tenors’ Christmas album was available for purchase.

The group noted during their performance that the net proceeds of the album will be donated to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

Overall, the Ten Tenors’ “Home for the Holidays” concert proved to be a wonderful way to get in the Christmas spirit.

Though the group hails from the other side of the world, they surely discovered for one night what Mercyhurst students know to be true — that Hurst is Home.