There is probably no better way to describe what transpired Friday at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, than Angels Sing, the title of the Indianapolis Children’s Choir holiday concert.
That’s when the advanced choirs of the ICC, under Henry Leck, founder and artistic director, entertained and inspired hundreds of their fans assembled in the gigantic sanctuary of the far north side church for a program of both secular and sacred music.
The four choirs were the Indianapolis Youth Chorale, Kantorei Choir, Bel Canto Choir and Cantantes Angeli Choir, conducted by Cheryl West, Ruth Dwyer, Joshua Pedde and Leck, respectively.
The choirs all exhibited superb blend and balance with impressive diction and intonation coming from the singers who charmed the audience with their earnestness and showmanship
They were accompanied throughout the concert by Martin Ellis on the organ and pianists Rebecca Edie and Anna Briscoe. Also performing was a brass quintet, a string quintet and other musicians.
Highlights of the program that lasted for l hour and 20 minutes without intermission were plentiful. They included the Youth Chorale’s performance of a very unique arrangement of Go Tell It on the Mountain and a spectacular rendition of O Holy Night.
Kantorei Choir’s performance of a Hebrew song called Bashanana Haba’ Ah was moving in its poignancy as was its rendition of Spanish Allelu which was enhanced by a piano, flute and castanets. Showing the most animation of all the choirs, the Kantorei singers were delightful as they sang Let it Snow. Impressive as well were the choir’s phonetic pronunciation of both Hebrew and Spanish lyrics.
Bel Canto shined in A Child is Born in Bethlehem as did Cantantes Angeli which sang The First Noel. Choir members from both groups were filled with personality when they combined to sing a very swinging The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.
As it customary and in its holiday concerts, the audience was invited to stand and join the combined choruses for O Come, All Ye Faithful. With lyrics projected on a large screen right of the altar, many members of the audience enthusiastically sang in full voice while the choirs provided harmony, creating a sound that was colossal in beauty and scope
The visual image of the massive combined choirs and the huge sound of their beautifully blended voices as they sang Christmastime and A Christmas Blessing, was a jubilant conclusion to an evening marked by uncommon artistry and first rate performances by talented young people who represent so much hope and promise for the future
For information about upcoming Indianapolis Children’s Choir performances call (317) 940-9640 or visit www.icchoir.org.
