Setting the holiday mood

Before the beautiful voices we savored this Christmas season from the Okaloosa Chamber Singers and Schola Cantorum matured to their current levels of professionalism, they were students of voice. If they were very, very fortunate, they would nurture their craft in courses like the Crestview High School choral music program.

On Dec. 14, a packed Pearl Tyner Auditorium saw the fruits of the 125 singers’ and choral music director Kevin Lusk’s dedication. From the opening “Carol of the Bells” candlelight procession to the rousing massed chorus performance of the “Hallelujah Chorus,” the 2010 Holiday Concert was an utter delight sure to put even the Grinchiest of Scrooges firmly in the holiday mood.

The concert opened with the lamé sparkle of Destiny, the women’s show choir. Accompanist Judah DeGraaf added a rhythm track to his keyboard, a subtle change from the past that seemed to give the girls an added bounce to their performance. The Carpenters’ classic “Merry Christmas, Darling” was an absolutely lovely highlight of their set.

Chanticleer, the chorus’ co-ed show choir, opened their set strolling arm-in-arm to “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” Their costumes, casual choreography and an enjoyable repertoire, including Vince Guaraldi’s timeless “Christmastime is Here” and the Academy-Award-winning “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” gave their performance the warm, fuzzy feel of a Bing Crosby holiday special.

The Men’s Choir brought a restrained dignity to the evening when, handsome in their tuxes, the guys sang a trio of diverse songs. Their bopping rendition of “A Holly, Jolly Christmas” contrasted nicely with “Winter Song,” which had a Victorian jolliness highlighted by solos by senior Kody Lusk.

The chorus largest ensemble, the nearly 100-voice Women’s Choir, wowed the audience with the gorgeous “There is No Rose” and the jaunty sleigh-ride beat of “Jing-A-Ling, Jing-A-Ling” featuring skillful soloists Elise Jenkins and Sarah Brooks.

Many of the women remained on stage afterward, were joined by several of the men, and performing as Chorale, particularly delighted the crowd with the “Carol of the Drum.” To the girls’ lilting lyrics, the guys provided the steady beat of “rum-pa-pum-pums.”

Nothing quite rounds out a Christmas concert like a well-performed rendition of the beloved Hallelujah Chorus from Handle’s “Messiah,” and the CHS chorus did not fail to deliver the goods with gusto. When Kevin Lusk invited chorus alumni to join in, more than 25 former members rushed for the stage. With pianist Leon Curenton adding accompaniment on the concert grand, the performance of the piece was thrilling, sending the audience out into the chilly night full of the spirit of the season.

For those who missed the chorus’ concert (or those who’d love an encore), highlights will be broadcast Christmas morning beginning at 10:06 a.m. on WAAZ 104.7 FM. Selections from the high school band’s Winter Concert will follow at 11:06 a.m. to noon. The concert broadcasts are sponsored by the First National Bank of Crestviewn, said Cal Zethmayr of WAAZ.