From my very 1st Candlelight Concert, way back in 19whatever, I’ve been a huge fan of this Staples High School holiday tradition.
Candlelight 2011. (Photo by Lynn U. Miller)
I’ve never missed a year. And I’ve never not had goosebumps the moment the “Sing We Noel” processional begins.
But until this week, the closest I’ve gotten to the stage was singing the “Hallelujah Chorus” at the final performance with dozens of ecstatic alums.
On Thursday, I was walking in the hall behind the auditorium. Adele Valovich was rehearsing her orchestra; Luke Rosenberg’s choir was singing.
I wandered in, mesmerized. Standing behind the strings and percussion, I heard the “Hallelujah Chorus” in an entirely different way. After all those years, this remarkable work sounded more awesome than ever.
Enjoy!
(If your browser does not support YouTube directly, click here for the video. Free tickets for this year’s Candlelight Concert — Fri., Dec. 14 at 8 p.m., Sat. Dec. 15 at 2 and 8 p.m. — are available at Staples’ front desk, until 3 p.m. this week.)