The Singing Christmas Tree - a wonderful experience

By Mahes Perera

The first ever Singing Christmas Tree came alive with the voices of children heralding the Christmas season at the courtyard of the Mount Lavinia Hotel in a one-hour program of carols and Christmas favourites on December 10.

The Singing Christmas Tree

Opening the season was the young choir of St. Sebastian's College, Moratuwa which proved to the packed audience in the courtyard that the old adage that Moratuwa was renowned for its musicians cannot be doubted, and still holds good. From their opening carol 'Joy to the World' the choir confidently harmonised the seasonal favourites with a great deal of aplomb that triggered the audience to join in with enthusiasm exuding a feeling of camaraderie.

It was a happy and a successful season of carol singing.

The choir 'standing on the tree with the pine decorated branches of the Christmas tree dressed in tiny coloured lights and silver tinsel was different and an enjoyable sight hitherto unseen at many other carol sessions.

The choir master must be congratulated for guiding the choir through the program with no glitches or wrong notes, until the finale 'Felicidad' and 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas'.

The choirs which will sing daily are school choirs and according to a well displayed boad at the courtyard the choirs who have participated so far are the Lyceum International School an December 11, the Combined Choirs on December 12, St. Benedict's College on December 13 and the Methodist Church Choir on December 14.

Today the choir of the Elizabeth Moir School will be in action from 7.00 p.m. and thereafter on December 20 the choir of the Good Shepherd Convent, Kotahena will be featured.

On December 21 Vocal Mystic from St. Joseph's College, Colombo will be in focus.

The Combined Universities Choir will be heard in harmony on December 22 and the Singing Christmas Tree will end its program of Christmas classics with the acknowledged choir of St. Joseph's College, Colombo giving their special performance on December 23.