By: Sophia Burick | Editor in Chief
December 13, 2019
Nothing captures the Christmas spirit quite like Disneyland in the holiday season, and our very own Madrigals choir was able to take part in the joy last Sunday, December 6, by performing in the 2019 Candlelight Ceremony and Processional.
The Candlelight Ceremony and Processional is a long-time Disneyland tradition, with its inaugural performance in 1958. Each year since, hundreds of choristers from across California have congregated each winter to process down Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland and perform a 45-minute musical version of the “The First Christmas,” telling the story through a mixture of song and narration by a celebrity guest.
In October, the Madrigals auditioned and were selected to be part of the mass choir that forms the primary spectacle of the show.
“We were one of 24 choirs accepted out of the 75 that applied,” SCHS vocal music director Mrs. Daniel said. “It’s a huge honor to be selected to participate.”
After passing auditions, the work for the Madrigals had only just begun. On top of the many Christmas carols they learn each year, they now had to learn and memorize over a dozen songs to be sung during the ceremony.
“We learned and memorized 45 minutes worth of music in 7 weeks,” Mrs. Daniel said.
But when the weekend of the performance came about, the Madrigals knew their hard work had been worth it. While they performed in the Sunday shows, the ceremony occurs on that Saturday as well – and the celebrity guest was revealed to be none other than Lin Manuel Miranda, the creator and star of the hit Broadway musical Hamilton.
“Working with a professional director, performing in Disneyland, and collaborating with Lin Manuel Miranda made the insane rehearsal demands absolutely worth it,” Mrs. Daniel said. “It is an experience my students will remember for the rest of their lives!”
And she is right – the experience was just as magical for the Madrigals on stage as it was for the audience. Creating beautiful music in a choir of that size and caliber in the “Happiest Place on Earth” is anything but an everyday experience.
“The experience was full of Disney magic,” SCHS senior and Madrigals member Sophie Matossian said. “Those of us who got to participate in the show felt it just as much as those watching it. I audibly gasped when Lin Manuel Miranda first took his place in the spotlight. I loved getting to connect with talented kids my age from as far away as Fresno. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity that I will never forget.”
And if that wasn’t enough, the Madrigals had the opportunity to spend the day, before and after the performances, behind the scenes and enjoying the attractions of the Disneyland park.
“It was cool to see the behind the scenes of Disneyland,” SCHS junior and Madrigals member Brooklyn Borgquist said. “It’s always magical!”
In the end, the weekend made for a beautiful performance and an unforgettable experience for the SCHS Madrigals. The Candlelight Ceremony and Processional is a testament to the joy that can be shared through song, and the Madrigals are proud to have made the happiest place on earth just that much happier for a weekend.
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