Journey Behind the Notes: TCATS #452 - Christmas Concert Top Ten

Well, the Choir, orchestra, bells, conductors, support staff, the guest artists, and the families of all of those just mentioned, made it through the very busy Christmas Concert week! Everyone involved in the actual concert met on Tuesday night and again on Wednesday night to put it all together. The concerts followed on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, with a "mini-concert" on Sunday (which consisted of the normal 30 min Music & the Spoken Word, followed by 30 additional minutes of parts of the Christmas Concert for just the in-house audience).

If you want to read professionally published articles on the concert, feel free to click on the multiple links below. The purpose of this particular blog entry, though, is to share with you my own experience and perhaps give you a peak behind what the audience saw.

ARTICLES

DesNews
LDSLiving
Church News
Salt Lake Tribune

My TOP TEN Moments (in no particular order)

10. There weren't any songs I didn't like singing this year, but the one I think I enjoyed the most personally was "Lo, How a Rose E're Blooming". I already blogged about this song, and like I said in that write-up, it's just a beautiful tune and singing it a cappella really brought it into my heart. Honorable Mention: "I Saw Three Ships"--especially the last 15 seconds of that song.

9. Having the privilege of singing next to my very good friend, Bro. Wes Malquist for the Thurs and Fri night concerts. His side comments, funny jokes, impeccable knowledge of the music, enthusiasm, encouragement, and friendship were (and always are) very much appreciated.

8. Observing how the various men and women within the choir leadership effectively handled certain issues that came up--which could have caused several choir members to lose focus on what mattered the most.

7. Listening to a mini-devotional (including a Q&A) in which the guest artists (Lea Solonga, Sir David Suchet, and Nicholas Winton Jr) were given some time to talk about themselves, their experiences this week, and answer questions that choir members had. The experience was very insightful. Among lots of things they said, they were all in agreement that their time here with the choir organization has been life-changing. They have been extremely grateful for the hospitality and friendship they've felt and have been overwhelmed with the kindness they've experienced.

6. Hanging out with friends during the breaks we had. It was fun talking about how the "concert experience" was going for everyone and hearing each other's take on impressions, favorite musical numbers, and guest artist reactions. Of course we talked about lots of other topics too.

5. Reading through all of the social media posts that members of the choir posted to our non-public FB group. So many shared how they or people they know had been affected by what they saw and heard. Many miracles, many inspirational stories, many thankful hearts from people going through hard things.

4. Being greeted after the concerts by the Choir presidency (including the wives) who congratulated us on a job well done.

3. Seeing audience members turn on the lights of their phones after being invited to pledge their lives to serving and uplifting others in 2023. It was truly symbolic in so many ways. Even just one light in the darkness shines brightly and is noticeable (meaning that one person's light can be effective in helping someone else) but as that one light turned into thousands of lights, it was evident how quickly light can cut through the darkness and individual acts of goodness can add up.

2. Hearing the story of how Nicky Winton saved over six hundred children from certain death just as WWII was about to start. You can read more about that story at the link, but it was so inspirational. The last remaining child of Nicky was at the concert --and during the devotional, he spoke of additional acts of service his father did during his life which clearly painted the picture that Nicky was truly a man of service throughout his entire life.

1. Having my joy in singing with the choir reignited. Leave it to Christmas music to work a miracle.

Special thanks to my carpool buddies and to my wife and kids who came to support me (and kept things going on the home front while I was away). Love you all!

Until 2023, may God be with you.

(Pictures courtesy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and LDSLiving.com)