Yesterday DR Jrand63 asked "DR CHAS SMITH what part of the concert always gets the most audience reaction?" -- which must be a good one because I had to think about it, so I observed this during last night's two performances.
The concert is a decades-long high school tradition with music presented by each chorus individually, all combined, a number of vocal solos, band, string orchestra, and full orchestra. It always includes a large opening number to get all the forces on the stage (lately they've been using Leroy Anderson's "Christmas Festival"); a large skit medley; a traditional singing of "O Holy Night" with solos (and, at the final concert, alumni participation); and it always ends with the "Hallelujah" Chorus. There's serious stuff, amusing stuff, you name it they do it. They claim it's the longest running (and few remaining) "Candlelight" concert traditions in the state, and people are always up for it so everything gets a very enthusiastic response. That being said, anything featuring student soloists gets the most reaction (with actually not very much woo-hoo-ing, it's nice to say), with the always loyal alumni presence and participation on "O Holy Night", followed by the "Hallelujah", being the clear winners. Which I guess isn't all that profound an observation, but you asked!
