Kona Choral Society will deliver holiday cheer during two free holiday concerts offered at 4 p.m. Dec. 20 and 21 in the Makaeo Pavilion at Old Kona Airport Park.
Ringing in the season with live choral performances, the weekend of free entertainment will herald the society’s fourth annual holiday concert tradition. Led by artistic director Susan McCreary Duprey and accompanied by keyboard, ukulele, and percussion ensemble, the 130-member volunteer adult and youth choruses of Kona Choral Society will present a mixture of contemporary, traditional, and world holiday carols. The double performance schedule, the closing highlight of chorus’ winter showcase celebrating their 25th anniversary, signifies the tangible impact the community-oriented, family-friendly concerts have on the Kona community.
“Last year there was standing room only. It was so packed that people were standing and sitting in the aisles,” Duprey said about the 2013 performance that caused Kona Choral Society to rethink their one-night-only performance and initiate a two-day event at the Makaeo Pavilion, co-sponsored by the County of Hawaii. “It’s a great way to get into the holiday spirit. We are sounding better than ever and are coming together by working hard and having fun. It will be an outstanding concert.”
The experienced ensemble will sing from a line-up of new and nostalgic holiday songs that audiences have come to anticipate yearly. A mixture of what Duprey refers to as classical music with a comedic twist, world music from Hawaii, Nigeria, Spain, France, and Jamaica, and traditional sing-a-long carols. Among the collection of humorous holiday favorites will be a collection of musical numbers from satirical musician Peter Schickele. Known as P.D.Q. Bach, a fictitious composer and “only forgotten son of the Bach family,” Schickele’s notorious consort of Christmas carols will have the audience laughing through songs such as “Throw the Yule Log On, Uncle John.” Additional songs that will carry the concert across the globe, will feature international compositions such as, “Al Hanissim” by Joshua Jacobson, a Hanukkah song performed in Hebrew, and the traditional Spanish carol “A la Nanita Nana.”
However, a choral concert bursting with holiday cheer would not be complete without the participatory traditional sing-a-long. Inviting the audience to join in the caroling of Yuletide favorites, concertgoers will be treated to the angelic voices of the Kona Choral Society Youth Chorus. The 50-member youth component of the society, directed by Marinella Savarese and accompanied by Gloria Juan, will join together with the adult choir to perform “Angels’ Carol,” a piece written by John Rutter and the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s Messiah.
For 25-year member Shirley McCoy, the growing assemblage of young singers in the chorus – which reached a program high membership this season – has been an inspiring part of being involved with the choral organization.
“Singing with our youth is just a blessing to me. To see these young singers and the more seasoned singers come together to make beautiful music and to share this with our audience is the highlight of being part of the KCS,” the alto said.
In addition to the second sitting of the holiday concert and the growth of the youth program, signifying the positive influence of the live choral performances in Kona, the society has seen worldly transformation through its silver years. Fellow original choir member Joan Parker expressed her gratitude over the expansion of the international music catalog. The diverse collection of compositions has been deliberately integrated into the choral curriculum by Duprey to reflect the growing diversity of Hawaii’s demographic.
“We have changed our name occasionally over time, but still maintained the original focus of singing major classical repertoire, interspersed with lots of lighter pieces, fun theme music, as well as a growing Hawaiian repertoire. I love that our current artistic director has broadened our range and appeal in the community and extended our multi-ethnic and linguistic repertoire,” Parker explained.
With each new concert, recently joined member, or inaugural holiday classical performance the Kona Choral Society continues to cement its position among the longstanding institutions of Big Island musical tradition.
“Kona Choral Society, in my opinion, gives the Kona community entertainment for the entire family to warm their hearts and minds,” said McCoy. “The music reaches each person in a different perspective. The community can count on us to be here to present to them music that will make them happy or sad. We have become an integral part of the lives of the Kona community.”
The two free concerts will take place from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Parking is free and chairs will be provided for inside. Bring a chair for outside seating. For more information call Kona Choral Society at 334-9880.