There is no shortage of traditions when the holidays roll around, and at Merrillville High School (MHS), there has been one tradition that has carried on for 60 plus years. On Thursday nights, the seats in Reinhart Auditorium were filled with families and loved ones as the MHS put on its annual Christmas Holiday Concert.
The Auditorium rang with the sounds of the season as Merrillville students sang a long list of Christmas classics. Their playlist included Frosty the Snowman, Silent Night, and, of course, Jingle Bells. For months, the members of the choir worked to ensure that they gave the performance of a lifetime. It required long hours of practice and a few long nights, but it led to a great performance and perfect way to ring in the holiday.
“For some of these students, it will be their 10th or more time performing,” said Melinda Reinhart, choir director for Merrillville High School. “All of the kids have been so excited for their big night, some have been singing and dancing all week long. They have worked very hard, and I know they are going to do great.”
One of the traditions of the Christmas concert is to have alumni of the choir join in to perform the Holiday Chorus with the current members of the choir. They were allowed to get a quick rehearsal in before the big finale to help make sure they were ready to step back in the spotlight.
“I have a lot of students, young and old, coming back, and it’s great to see some of them,” Reinhart said. “This was our big finale for the concert season, and we wanted to go out with a bang.”
It’s
not easy for most
to get up on stage –the moment the spotlight
hits, it’s common for stage fright to creep
in. However, any fright took a backseat tonight and was replaced by a
merry feeling. Even those who performed solos delivered a number that brought applause that
roared through the auditorium.
“It’s always exciting to see my son and everyone else perform,” said Shirlonda Taylor, parent of a choir member. “The show is awesome. It is very inspiring and brings families together for the holidays.”
Not only does it help bring the holiday spirit into the community of Merrillville, but it also helps bring one other thing to the table.
“Art is very important for the community,” Taylor said. “It adds something special to the community; It brings a lot of joy even when it isn't the holiday season.”