Traveling through Africa, touring the Netherlands, and dancing through Cuba, this year the SHC Chorus will take their audiences on a fantastic trip across the globe in their new winter concert, “Christmas Around the World”.

The audience will be able to experience a variety of cultures as they hear songs from different countries, like Scotland and Nigeria. Last year, chorus groups dazzled audiences with their “Heaven and Earth” theme, performing both angelic songs and songs from the soul.

“The whole African theme is different. There’s a lot of Jewish, African, and Spanish. It’s diverse,” says singer Alex Martinez ’16.

Excited SHC student Kai Wong ’16, who plans to attend the concert, “It’s cool that everyone comes together to sing [in different languages]. It shows our diversity at this school.”

All the work the SHC chorus members and directors have been putting into preparing these multilingual songs ensures that the show will be extraordinary.

“We’ve been constantly practicing every Monday and Wednesday,” notes Teotico ‘17. They have extended two of their rehearsals from 2:40-4:10.

The most challenging part of learning songs in different languages , according to Teotico ‘17, is the pronunciation, because whether it be chorus director Mr. Bohm or Ms. Smith, “either of them can catch us on pronouncing the words and also, these are languages that we’ve never familiarized ourselves with.”

This obstacle couples with the different vocal sections in each choir group, which lead many students to learn and review their parts individually after group rehearsals, as well as ask Ms. Smith or Mr. Bohm for small lessons if they need it.

“Regular Concert Choir meets up every blue morning at 7:55 to about 9:00,” describes Martinez ’16, “then one group, either soprano, alto, tenor or bass, [stays] if they need to work on a song for an extra twenty minutes [until] the bell rings, so we are pretty much there all morning.”

“Sopranos get a lot of help because our part is just so confusing,” mentions Chorus member Annie Fung ’16.

The tech crew also has much in store for the concert. Mr. Mahoney, the technical theatre director, says the stage will include, “christmas trees hung from the ceiling and flags from each country of origin of the songs,” and another surprise audience members will be delighted to see.

Chorus members encourage everyone of all ages to attend this winter spectacle because it will be filled with fun, magic and language. The showings are on Friday, December 5th at 7:30 pm; Sunday, December 7th at 3:30 pm; and Sunday, December 7th at 7:30 pm.