On December 11th, 2024, a select group of MHS choir members and members of the Hommocks HaVoC ensemble performed at Radio City Music Hall, opening for the Rockettes’ Christmas Spectacular. This year was Hommocks’s seventh year visiting the Hall. Choir members performed two pieces, engaging in a once-in-a-lifetime experience performing at one of the most famous venues in the world.
Prior to the production, The Globe spoke to Hommocks’s chorus teacher, Leon Whyte. Whyte, who organizes the annual trip, arranged two “very celebratory” pieces for the choir to perform: “A Thirty-Second Merry Christmas” and “Siyahamba.” Both pieces were performed a cappela.
Despite the inevitable challenges associated with a cappella productions, Whyte had faith in his students, believing that “the kids [were] up for the challenge.”
Aside from the actual production, the performance proved to be meaningful due to the sense of community it creates for students. Before heading to Radio City, the students stopped by Rockefeller Center to observe its iconic Christmas tree.
MHS choir conductor Ann Crozier spoke to the nature of the trip and how it allows middle school students to form connections with potential mentors. Crozier states that “beyond the performing side, it’s all about community-building, and middle schoolers get a great opportunity to sing with the older kids.”
Crozier also shared her personal experiences as a former choir student, remembering how “any field trip around wintertime…inspired [her].” She remembers “being overwhelmed with…pride and joy” following these performances and attributes these experiences to motivating her to pursue her career in teaching music.
Crozier’s positive attitude towards her high-school performances is shared by current MHS students. This December marks Clara Selber’s (’27) fourth performance at Radio City. She fondly remembers her past trips as they have not only allowed her to get in the Christmas spirit but also “to create new memories and bring back so many old ones from different periods of my life.”
Selber further notes that she is “happiest around the holiday season when [at] Radio City…[and]… connecti[ng] with music.”
Whyte corroborates this sense of community and connection that music brings, noting how “special” it is that he gets to “conduct [his] choir on stage” in “one of the most famous cities in the world.”
Even in its seventh year, the annual performance at Radio City Music Hall continues to highlight choir students’ dedication to their craft while celebrating the unifying power of music and tradition. The district looks forward to what Whyte will prepare for next year!
