More than anything, the 鈥淢erry Christmas Music鈥� concert presented by the Moraine Chorale and Chamber Singers on Dec. 6 was more than singing 鈥� it was a 鈥渃horal experience鈥� led by ringmaster Nick Thomas.
Thomas鈥� enthusiasm and creativity made this show more than a choir concert; it really was an experience weaving together threads of music, inspiration, humor, education, interaction and fun.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e going to see things you ain鈥檛 never seen, and we don鈥檛 give refunds,鈥� he exclaimed.
When he began leading the community-based Moraine Chorale and student member Chamber Singers 27 years ago, Thomas noted he started out with 10 members. The stage for this concert was saturated with 80 singers, not including the 15-member chamber orchestra.
After opening the concert with the national anthem, Thomas encouraged the audience of the sold-out show to say hello and Merry Christmas to the person sitting next to them. Before continuing, Thomas changed into a Santa-themed jacket along with a towering Santa hat. Every few songs in the program, a new colorful jacket or hat would slowly descend from the rafters or be delivered via a special guest 鈥� Frosty the Snowman 鈥� so Thomas could execute a costume change. From flashing lights to gold tinsel-laden sleeves, the audience never knew what surprises the next wardrobe choice would bring as each costume shed through the performance was piled next to Thomas鈥� music table.
Following intermission, Thomas dressed in an inflatable costume where he was an elf 鈥渃arried鈥� on stage by Santa. The nature of the costume gave him some challenges while conducting, but it was nothing he couldn鈥檛 handle as he cast comedic glares into the audience. After conducting one song in the outfit, he changed into some green, jingling slippers along with a new jacket and hat.
Then there was the music itself. Through its Build the Choral Library fund, the ensemble performed 11 new pieces, including 鈥淪ing We Now of Fife and Drum,鈥� 鈥淓xtraordinary Merry Christmas,鈥� 鈥溾�橳was the Night Before Christmas鈥� and 鈥淛azz Waltz of the Sugar Plum Fairy,鈥� all assembled in just six rehearsals. They even sung a special rendition of 鈥淗appy Birthday鈥� (to the tune of 鈥淗allelujah Chorus鈥� from Handel鈥檚 Messiah) to recognize a chorale member who turned 95 a few days prior. Thomas exclaimed the song was for anyone else in the audience celebrating a recent or upcoming birthday.
鈥淏et you鈥檙e not gonna hear THAT at your church choir,鈥� Thomas remarked.
Along with the honeyed and harmonic sounds of each choir, the audience was encouraged to tap their toes, clap or sing. Thomas gave listeners lines to sing for specific songs, even as simple as 鈥渏ing-a-ling-a jing-a-ling-a jing-a ling ling.鈥� Near the end of the nearly three-hour show, he invited all the children in the crowd up on stage to help him
conduct and bust a move. Their wide grins and unabashed, enthusiastic movements couldn鈥檛 betray their delight during 鈥淒J Play a Christmas Song.鈥�
Hearing the audience laughing at Thomas鈥� antics, singing and clapping to well-known holiday tunes, and cooing at the children dancing onstage was enough to encourage anyone to come back again on May 2 for the group鈥檚 spring 鈥渃horal experience.鈥�
Don鈥檛 miss the Chorale and Chamber Singers performance of Broadway, Pop, Motion Picture Spectacular! On Saturday, May 2 at 7:30 p.m. Get tickets 24/7 at morainevalley.edu/fpac/tickets or contact the box office Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 708-974-5500.
