African Children's Choir brightens "Yuletide"
The long and the short of this year's "Yuletide Celebration" is this:
A tall tight end for the Indianapolis Colts, and about 22 small African children offer lots of surprises at the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra's annual holiday music showcase.
The ISO isn't making any promises as to when, but the Colts' own Ben Utecht is expected to perform at about half of the 30 "Yuletide" performances. Friday's opening show at Hilbert Circle Theatre happened to be one of them.
Utecht teamed up with "Yuletide" host Sandi Patty for a cheery "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" Though his voice didn't seem quite as big as the 6-foot-6 Minnesota native himself, he can carry a tune with style.
Conducted by Jack Everly, "Yuletide" stars the orchestra, complete with the brass arranged on high, beneath a painted backdrop of snow-covered pines. This year's edition features a few perennial favorites, including "A Visit from St. Nicholas," "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" and the tap-dancing Santas.
But the showstoppers probably were the boys and girls of the African Children's Choir, who are making their ISO debut this year. Mainly consisting of 9- to 12-year-olds from nations including Uganda, Ghana and South Africa, the choir is an offshoot of the Music For Life Institute, a relief group focused on the education and well-being of young Africans.
The performers, who typically stop in a city for just one night, will sing through the full run of "Yuletide." They have an electricity about them, from the moment they charge down the aisles in their bright skirts, hats and headbands, yelping and hopping about, before they fall in step with other performers.
Even in Indianapolis, which has its own high-caliber young singing groups, the African Children's Choir makes a strong, heartwarming impression, whether the children sing a traditional, chant-and-response number with drums or a showier piece with Broadway-style choreography.
Their best number with Patty may have been "From A Distance," the pop song Bette Midler helped popularize, and Patty's approach was to join right in with them. But first, they all performed "Getting To Know You" from the musical "The King and I," with the children seated around Patty. in a circle.
On their own, the children sang a medley that included "Gift for the King," "Betelehemu" and "How Good It Is."
So, you didn't think the ACC presentation was exploitive at all? I wondered if anyone would feel a bit squeamish about all the "holiday cheer" and presents and Santa, and the ACC represents orphaned African children who have experienced war, poverty, disease and famine. Thoughts?
whitney smith : RE: African Children's Choir brightens "Yuletide" More..
Maybe it is ironic that the ISO has been featuring underprivileged children in "Yuletide Celebration" at a time of year that some might consider the height of American consumerism. But maybe by featuring the African Children's Choir, the show's creators are asking us to look beyond the commercialism of the holiday. I don't think featuring the choir was exploitation. The night I saw them, they genuinely seemed to have a great time. Besides the American elements of "Yuletide," they sang songs, performed dances and described customs native to their homelands. Plus, they've been touring the U.S. to raise money for their own educations and the educations of other African children.
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