By SARIT LASCHINSKY

Special to The Press

Members of the Parkland High School Chorale debuted their virtual Winter Concert Dec. 21, 2020, bringing together songs of the season and holiday cheer through recorded performances in several different locations.

“We are thrilled to present you this year’s concert in the most unique way,” Chorale Director Frank Anonia said during the concert’s introduction.

Assistant Director Allison Figueroa said much thought had been put into the arrangement of students during the rehearsal process and filming and recording session in order to provide for adequate social distancing.

“Between changing rehearsal locations, rehearsing outside when the weather cooperated, always singing with masks, and having me on tape measure duty, we were able to adhere to the guidelines while providing a meaningful experience for our young musicians,” Figueroa said. “The flexibility the students showed really highlights their desire to make music when we need it more than ever.”

Figueroa also said members of the Class of 2021 would be introduced during the concert through solo or small ensemble performances.

“We though it important to give each of them a moment in the spotlight after they’ve had to adjust to so many new normal this past year,” she said.

The concert performance opened with the entire chorale singing Elaine Hagenberg’s “Alleluia” from seats in the high school gymnasium.

Next, a rendition of “Still Still Night,” by Jackson Berkey, was performed by candle-holding chorale students outdoors, with a solo performance by Lydia Walker.

The third holiday tune was “I Love You/What a Wonderful World,” arranged by Craig Hella Johnson.

Featuring soloist Brycen Geiger, this was performed at Union United Church of Christ, Neffs.

“Fly Away Home,” by Pinkzebra, was performed onstage in the high school auditorium, and included solo performances by Emily Babinchak, Alyssa Cahill and Amanda Lane.

Adolphe Adam’s “O Holy Night,” with soloists Taylor Shortell, Paige Herman and Michaiah Watkins, was performed at Union UCC, followed by an outdoor rendition of “Underneath the Stars” by Kate Rusby, again with Shortell as soloist.

Luke Saad, Ian Bower, Carter Sachse, Robert Moore, Zachary Evans and George DeNardo performed Brian Tate’s “Connected” onstage.

This was followed by “Lift Thine Eyes,” by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, performed by Watkins, Herman and Catharine Aboulhouda.

The penultimate performance was Jake Runstead’s “I Will Lift Mine Eyes” performed by the full chorale ensemble under Anonia’s direction, again in the high school gymnasium.

The concert concluded with “All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth” by Don Gardner and arranged by Alan Billingsley, performed by chorale students at Union UCC with an additional solo by Sachse, who sang in the snow.

Overall, the chorale performance featured the following students:

•Soprano 1: Alyssa Cahill, Sophia Morgan, Taylor Shortell, Michalah Watkins and Grace Werteen.

•Soprano 2: Rachel Kanter, Amanda Lane, Brenna Pelizzoni, Rishika Rohatgi and Lydia Walker.

•Alto 1: Sara Ayad, Emily Babinchak, Emily Bachl, Paige Herman and Marlie Heym.

•Alto 2: Catharine Aboulhouda, Laurel Bendetti, Anna Lorenzo, Katarina O’Mara and Addison Treat.

•Tenor 1: Ian Bower, Matt Haupt, Isaiah Palmer, Luke Saad and Andrew Sachse.

•Tenor 2: Brycen Geiger, Andrew Kistler, Robert Moore, Carter Sachse and Jared Sussman.

•Bass 1: Jovanne Cortez, Julian Ettinger-Finley, Zachary Evans, Nathan Metcalf and Jack Valuntas.

•Bass 2: George DeNardo, Jacob Eberhardt, Jason Roca, Marcus Shin and Eric Wood.

Anonia thanked the Parkland administration, particularly high school Principal James Moniz and Visual and Performing Arts Director Mark Stutz, and the Rev. Kris Snyder-Samuelson and Neffs Union UCC for use of their facility, both indoors and outdoors.

He also expressed gratitude to high school English teacher and adviser Jay Greth, Community Relations Director Nicole McGalla and Parkland TV and Film for airing the concert, as well as the Parkland Education Foundation for its support.

Additional thanks were given to Dave Hinson and Jason DeChristopher for sound engineering, along with Scott McKenna of Scaling Creative for visual recording.

The recording of the 2020 Chorale Winter Concert in its entirety, as well as clips of each individual song, is available to view on the Parkland TV and Film YouTube channel at youtube.com/c/ParklandTV/videos.