Highland Rocks Temple Square

About a hundred Highland choir students graced the lobby of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building Thursday evening with their annual Temple Square concert. The students nearly didn’t make it in time because only one of the two busses showed up. Students had to cram into seats or find other ways to make it downtown.

Luckily, the Highland choir was able to rush to their places just in time. Parents, teachers, and other bystanders gathered around both levels the large-columned room to listen to holiday songs traditional for this time of year sung  from the balcony.

“This concert is special because we get to perform in such a wonderful building,” Madrigals Junior Ben Lambert said. “Also anyone who just happens to be passing by can get a treat to the ears.”

The choirs took turns waiting as others sang various versions of “Fa La La.”

“This concert is exciting because it is a concert to the public,” Highland Choir teacher Katie Houston said. “It’s a concert where people that aren’t our normal audience, like parents, can attend.

Eventually, the entire choir joined together to truly take advantage of the room’s acoustics, singing “Somewhere in my Memory” from the movie Home Alone and “Candlelight Carol” by John Rutter.

After the initial concert at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, Highland’s concert and madrigal choirs walked to the temple square assembly hall for a second performance.

Among the myriad beautiful christmas songs, a highlight was an a capella performance of “Carol of the Bells” by Pentatonix performed by seniors Lauren Kerr, Brian McDonald, Jess McIntosh, Noah Birch, and junior Andrew Pegoretti.

“I was so proud of the choirs tonight,” Houston said. “Men’s ensemble especially stepped up for their performance. They sang loudly and clearly.”

Even with the chaos that started the night out, the Highland choirs managed to delight both those that came to support their students and those that were just stopping in for some nice holiday music.