By: Jake Weber
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
Despite the October weather in mid-December, Wauseon Local School’s A Christmas Festival was a memorable experience which instilled the classic holiday cheer into the hearts of those in attendance.
Director Angelica Dunsavage began the performance with one of the earliest-known Christmas carols, “Gaudete”. The classic carol had a slight accompanying twist, featuring percussion and repeated bass parts.
The first half of the concert featured the talents of the middle school chorus singing classics such as “Noel, Noel” and “Jingle Bells”, which, surprisingly, was written as a Thanksgiving tune. “O Holy Night” was sang in the style of the popular shortened version from the movie Home Alone.
The middle school had a number of outstanding soloists; however, one distinct voice was that of Lexi Sauber in the beginning of “All I Want For Christmas Is You”. The Mariah Carey-like performance invoked a well deserved roar of applause from the audience.
Following the intermission was a medley based off the hit movie, Frozen. The standard choir performance quickly changed into a Broadway musical; the Wauseon High School Chorale began amongst the audience, singing and stomping with vigor. The dynamic singing ranges and syncopated dance moves created an upbeat, dazzling show that one wouldn’t soon forget.
The Wauseon High School Concert and A Cappella Choirs demonstrated their superlative artistic abilities with renditions of “Let It Snow”, “My Wish for You This Christmas”, and an enchanting experience of “A Musicological Journey Through the 12 Days of Christmas”. An already captivating act then rose to the finale of the afternoon with the staple “Hallelujah Chorus” performed by the high school choirs with guest alumni joining as well.
Jake may be reached at
publisher@thevillagereporter.com