It’s Christmastime in La Porte County, and nowhere is that more evident than at the La Porte High School Winter Choral Concert. Music and Christmas spirit filled the air as the students filed into the auditorium holding candles and singing traditional hymns and carols dating back centuries. Each of LPHS’s five choirs and choruses were involved in this event, which happens to mark the very last choir concert LPHS will ever hold in its old auditorium. The auditorium is slated to be torn down and replaced in the next two weeks.
Saraidee Reyes-Villa, a sophomore in the Treble Chorale, feels like part of a family when she sings in choir.
“I really like how we all come together and we all have a really big concert that brings us together,” said Reyes-Villa. “I just love being here every day.”
Amy Povlock, mother of senior member of Mixed Chorale and Show Choir Shania Povlock, appreciated that the sense of family overflows into the students’ actual families.
“Over the years, [Shania] has really grown within music,” said Povlock. “The friends that she’s made have become like family to us, so we love to be here to support all of the kids.”
Lani Naue, another sophomore in Treble Chorale, feels at home on the stage.
“I’ve always loved choir. I feel like it’s a second home to me, I just love the experience,” said Naue
Naue also looks forward to the Christmas Concert every year.
“I love that [the concert] brings such holiday spirit,” said Naue. “I think everyone looks forward to it every year.”
The students of LPHS’s various choirs have been working hard on these songs, ever since their last concert series in October. Thomas Coe, LPHS’s choir director, has a passion for teaching his students the best music and inspires his students to help out in the planning process, even enlisting the help of some students to work on choreography.
“I love exposing students to really high-quality choral literature,” said Coe. “I see the excitement they have for it and it makes me feel proud to share it with them and that they realize they are able to achieve a high level of performance. I’m also really detail oriented with the way the concert goes and I like that students get to experience what I plan for each concert. They are also very helpful with making the details all work together.”
The evening was a slam-hit with the audience, providing something for everyone including classic carols, hymns dating back to the 15th century, ‘50’s Christmas rock like “Jingle Bell Rock,” and even newer fair such as “I Want to Stare at My Phone With You.” However, for Mr. Coe, who has taught at LPHS for 18 years, the old auditorium’s final choir concert represents the end of an era and the beginning of something new.
“It’s hitting me right now, actually,” said Coe when describing how he felt about the renovation. “It’s a little bit sad. I’ll always feel that way about the stage because, for our sets, after every concert you look at it and go ‘well, tomorrow this is all going to be gone.’ Even that’s a little bit sad. I’m never going to stand on that stage in front of a choir again, and that’s a little bit weird. I’m so looking forward to the new stage, that excitement replaces the sadness.”
And by September of 2018, the public can enjoy the same high-quality choir concerts on that brand-new stage!
