AN XMAS CAROL: CHOIRS TO BRING JOY TO THE WORLD

AN XMAS CAROL: CHOIRS TO BRING JOY TO THE WORLD
(Article in Hindustan Times, New Delhi, Sunday 19-December-2021)
– Anjuri Nayar Singh

Set to echo in the city this year are the merry tunes of carolers, bringing hope amid the pandemic

Reeling under the effects of the pandemic and the constant news updates of the new Covid-19 variant spreading across the world, what is helping to keep the Christmas spirit alive this year are the carol groups in the city. Gearing up to perform publicly or at various intimate gatherings – physically or virtually – they are the true joy that comes to town around this time of the year.

Online stars
Having decided to go virtual, this year as well, Lorraine Music Academy has its plans set. “The pandemic is not over, and there is no vaccine yet for children. Last year, we had a wonderful Christmas concert online and we will have the same this year too, on Christmas eve”, says Aubrey Aloysius, co-founder of the academy, adding, “We went online since the very first month after the nationwide lockdown. In fact, now we do online concerts every Sunday at 5pm, with global as well as Indian maestros. This year, the children are far more confident and have taken to the camera like real stars! They have so much more energy!”

Talking about the line up of carols this year, Aloysius shares, “Our students will be bringing in the Christmas spirit by singing and playing a mix traditional and modern Christmas carols in different languages.” Giving is a sneak peek into their set list, he adds, “Traditional carols include Silent Night, Joy to the World, Jingle Bells, Peace Be Still, Born on Christmas Day, and Mary Did You Know, among many others and also some modern carols, which include some original compositions by our students.”