Christmas programs

Last night I went to a Christmas Program at my youngest daughter's High School - Rosati-Kain -- here in St. Louis, from which she graduated 2 years ago. Of course, when she attended, I went to every Christmas program (she played trumpet her freshman year and was also in the Freshman chorus), just as I went to every Christmas program at my oldest daughter's high school (Notre Dame) when she was in high school. Both high schools are all girls, so it always caused me to travel back in time as I sat at their programs, basking in the beautiful voices and Christmas music.

I remember my freshman year at the Mount, the Monday I headed down to "Glee Club" after classes and being told this was the week that we would have practice until 5 pm because it was "Dress rehearsal" week for The Christmas Pageant. I had no clue what it meant -- but jumped in with both feet because I loved music and I loved all our activities.

Well, it was the most fabulous thing I had ever experienced! Not only had we been learning some beautiful music -- but there was a play to incorporate the music within!

We did pieces like......

Long is Our Winter

Silver Bells

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Drummer Boy

Angels We Have Heard On High

Silent Night

O Come All Ye Faithful

and.........................................our ultimate piece: The Hallelujah Chorus!!!!

We sang alto, soprano and second soprano -- wonderful arrangements, directed by Sister Mary Durr. Claudino Anido was our accompanist my freshman year. Other years......Becky Collins, Phyllis Kesler, Tina Weber......that's all I can remember. There were probably others. It was my ultimate dream to accompany chorus on the piano, but I never got to. My piano skills weren't strong enough (and then I spent the next 16 years of my life playing organ at Liturgies!).

It was all magical and beautiful!

The tradition at Rosati-Kain's Christmas program is for all Alumnae present to come up on stage to join the Chorus and sing Silent Night (and the audience joins in as well) as the final number of the evening. Alumnae present included the school's current Principal and President! It was very touching to see -- and something that we would have done. There is a strong Alumnae presence there, like we have at MSJ. I enjoyed the kinship I felt.

It was a beautiful program -- one I enjoyed because of the beautiful voices and music there, and one I enjoyed for the beautiful voices and music it reminded me of back at MSJ!