Washington & Jefferson College

Camerata Singers

Singing in the Holidays

Long before the Thanksgiving turkey is stuffed, the Washington & Jefferson College Music Department begins preparation for a holiday concert coinciding with the Student Activity Board’s Light-up Night.

Students decorate the ski lodge—the study room by the coffee shop—and on this night the tree and decorations are lit. Gifts are also given to the less fortunate. After this celebration, the music department provides entertainment.

This is my favorite all year long. In the W&J Choir and Camerata Singers, we began singing Christmas songs two days after Halloween and one week later, the W&J Wind Ensemble begins. The Wind Ensemble is also performing music from Hanukah. Just hearing the music lightens the mood in our Olin Fine Arts Center.

One big difference about this concert than previous years is that this concert will include the premiere of my group—W&J Women’s Show Choir. We formed as an audition group and began rehearsing two songs. The first is an upbeat medley of Christmas music including “Mr. Santa,” “Hey Santa!” and closing with the Beach Boys hit, “Little Saint Nick.”

We are also performing a piece from The Grinch called “Where Are You Christmas?,” which was arranged by an alumnus. Every time we sing it, we all get a warm, fuzzy feeling inside. We are so excited to make our debut.

This kind of collaboration only happens when W&J students and the spirit of the holidays come together.

Rachelle Tritinger
W&J Class of 2010