Enjoy the holiday performance by the sixth grade Middle School Choir
To celebrate the holiday season, Punahou’s Middle School Choirs embarked on a virtual choir recording project under the direction of Marlene Patton. Because students can’t sing together in-person, this was a way for them to still create music together.
Through in-class lessons, guidance and rehearsal tracks, students individually worked on “‘Tis the Season,” a choral medley of “Deck the Halls,” “Here We Come a Caroling” and “Jingle Bells.” Students recorded their parts at home, and Duane Padilla, a violin teacher at Punahou Music School, and Patton mixed them together for the final piece. Students compiled a festive photo collage to complete the virtual performances.
Patton was inspired to pursue this project to give students a collaborative choral performance experience, and to give parents and families a surprise holiday greeting. “What better way to celebrate the holidays than through music and the bright smiling faces of youngsters,” Patton said.
Students thought the project was a fun way to sing together as a class and share the holiday spirit. “I really enjoyed listening to it because it was a beautiful moment for our entire class,” one student said. Another said: “I liked knowing that other people would see it and listen to our singing. Maybe it can make them happy after what this year has been like.”
Seventh graders perform a holiday medley
Holiday medley by eighth graders