Purple Haze
Sharing a common joy
By Lauren Bagian

Dec. 10, 2009

It is important at this time of year to share the spirit of Christmas with those around us. Some members of the Northern High School Mixed Chorus did just that on Tuesday, Dec. 8, when they shared their musical gifts with the residents of Elmcroft, Dillsburg’s assisted living center. Because the residents could not attend any of the many concerts to be held at the high school during December, the chorus brought the concert to them and sang the entire program start to finish. Since the High School Chorus Holiday Concert is not until Saturday, Dec. 19, these singers had to make sure that their music was specially prepared up to performance quality a bit early so they were able to give their elders a worthwhile concert. The whole project was quite a success, and hopefully it will continue as a tradition for years to come.

This heartwarming example depicts the most important themes of Christmas: love, selfless giving and togetherness. Most of the students involved were not related to any of the residents they performed for, but they treated their audience like it was made up of their own grandparents. By bringing them a gift of music, the students reminded the residents of past Christmases, and these memories kept smiles on their faces throughout the performance and the rest of the day. Songs can remind listeners of baking cookies with their mothers, or trimming their Christmas trees of years past.

Acts such as this bring the community together during the holidays and provide a medium that we can all relate to: music. Through the gift of music, anyone, whether 8 or 80-years-old, can find something in common with those around them.