Jeffrey Backus, Opinions Editor
Every year during the Christmas season, the members of the Penn-Trafford choral department travel to various venues to perform holiday music.
The groups of Mixed Chorus, Select Choir, Encore and Ovation include students of all grade levels, and each prepares music of varying difficulty levels.
The official chorus concert occurred on Dec. 3, in which all groups participated. In addition to this, the Encore and Ovation travel elsewhere to perform certain songs from their program.
Encore is a show choir, requiring entry by an audition and consisting of male and female members that are either sophomores, juniors or seniors. Ovation is an all-female choir, which also requires an audition to join.
Sophomore Angel Morante is a first-year member of Encore.
“This year I am lucky enough to be participating in Encore and Select Choir with such amazing performers,” she said.
She said she decided to join Encore because of the tours the group does to all the elementary schools, which are slated for Dec. 21 and 22.
“I wanted nothing more as an elementary school student than to be one of those performers in the green and gold vests,” Morante said.
She is also very excited to perform for the elementary school students.
“I’ll be able to see my former teachers and schools, and I’ll get to take a trip down memory lane,” she said.
Senior Katelynn Powell has been a part of Encore for three years and has participated in a number of other choral programs in the area.
Powell agrees that the tours done when she was in elementary school was the reason she wanted to be a part of Encore.
“I’ve also done encore for the friendship I have with every single person and the wonderful drive in [everyone],” she said.
One of Morante’s favorite venues this year was the PPG Wintergarden on Dec. 7.
“The atmosphere is absolutely stunning. Also, I’m a big fan of ice skating, so getting to hit the rink with my friends was super exciting for me,” she said.
Powell also said she loved performing at PPG.
“I loved the beautiful lights and skating and watching the people’s faces reacting to our performances,” she said.
The Encore, Ovation and Jazz Band traveled to Pittsburgh to perform parts of their holiday programs in the PPG Wintergarden. The performances started at noon, but afterwards, the students were allowed to walk around Market Square and ice skate for two hours.
Although going to PPG was Morante’s favorite event, she said her favorite experience was the formal chorus concert.
“It was the first time we collectively as a group completed our performance without mistake. We were all very nervous and excited, and for us to finally show the public our showcase of songs was definitely a memorable experience.”
Powell said she is looking forward to the mall tours, which occurred on Dec. 16. For this event, the Encore and Ovation perform a flash mob in various local malls, singing one or two songs from their holiday programs.
“Honestly, I am so excited to bond further with all my friends,” she said.