On Dec. 15, Central Hardin’s choir will perform their annual Christmas concert, taking place at The Towne Mall at 10 a.m. The show should run for approximately 20 mins. For the first time, East Hardin Middle School will be accompanying them for a collaboration, as EHMS just started a choir this year.
CHHS choir director Brandon Centers has been singing in an organized choir for nearly 26 years, dating back to his time in middle school. This trimester he is teaching Advanced Choir and Concert Choir, both of which will be performing Friday.
“We’re doing a piece called ‘Betelehemu.’ It is an African piece that is basically talking about the birth of Christ, but it’s in Swahili,” Centers said. “It’s very rhythmic and it has two percussion players in there so I think I’m probably most excited about performing that with the middle school.”
The CHHS choir started practicing the Christmas songs only about a month ago, at the start of trimester two. Fortunately, this crop of singers seem to adapt well.
Senior soprano Victoria Roach, who joined the CHHS choir her sophomore year, now wants to pursue a career in professional choir or opera due to Centers’ influence.
“I want people to know that choir is a really fun activity to do,” Roach said. “If they want to learn how to sing better or read sheet music, you should definitely join, and if you want a teacher that’s laid back, chill, and fun, this is definitely the right group to be in.”
Senior bass Garrett Milby, who also joined the CHHS choir his sophomore year, started out in the CHHS band. However, the choir proved itself to be a better fit for him to prosper.
“Maybe a month ago we did our auditions for the all-state choir which is very competitive; it takes a lot to get in, it’s a lot of preparation, and a whole long audition process, and I got into that so I’ll be singing with them in February also,” Milby said.
Junior alto Sarah Hamlin, like Roach and Milby, looks forward to performing in Christmas concert every year, as well as interacting with the passerbyers at the mall.
“I remember last year we had this lady come up to us, she was like ‘I thought you all were an adult choir you guys sounded so good!’” Hamlin said. “‘Carol of the Bells’ is my personal favorite, I think it’s most people’s favorite too.”
Contact Centers for more information on joining choir (room 130), and stay tuned to The Central Times via chhsnews.com or @chhstimes on Instagram for future event coverage.
