As neighbors, family, children dressed in festive pajamas and several miniature horses celebrated the Christmas season, the St. Cecilia Catholic School choir awaited their turn to serenade the community with six classic Christmas songs.
ATTENDEES OF THE CITY OF TUSTIN’S CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING AND HOLIDAY STROLL EVENT CHEER ON ST. CECILIA CATHOLIC SCHOOL CHOIR, WHO PERFORMED CHRISTMAS SONGS FOR THE CROWD.
Standing on the stage in red sweaters, plaid skirts and khaki pants, the fifth- through eighth-grade choir students helped kick off the city of Tustin’s Christmas Tree Lighting and Holiday Stroll event on Dec. 8 in Old Town. The event featured a visit from Old Saint Nick, music and dance performances from local students, food trucks and holiday-themed carnival games for children.
ABOUT 20 STUDENTS IN THE ST. CECILIA CATHOLIC SCHOOL CHOIR WILL BE TRAVELING TO ROME THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS TO SING FOR POPE FRANCIS AT THE PAPAL MASS ON JAN. 1.
“I think we did pretty good,” said sixth-grader Olive Huerta, 11, of the performance. “It was fun. I like singing, and it felt good.”
Her classmate Pauline Co echoed her sentiments.
“It was fun,” said Co, 11. “I enjoy singing with great people and singing with my classmates.”
The choir received a tumultuous applause for their renditions of “Jingle Bell Rock,” “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” “Silent Night” and “Joy to the World.”
“I almost cry every time,” said Vice Principal Jessica Deutschel. “It just brings joy to see the confidence it takes to get up in front of the community and share their gifts and their love of God.”
More than 1,000 came out to celebrate the Christmas event that closed several streets in Old Town Tustin. It was the first time in 15 years that the annual tree-lighting ceremony was in Old Town, and the first time St. Cecilia’s choir has participated.
“Our choir is a wonderful part of our school community,” said St. Cecilia Principal Mary Alvarado. “St. Cecilia is the patron saint of music, so we take that very much to heart and we love having our music program.”
The performance wasn’t the first this year for the choir, which performs at their first Friday Masses as well as their own campus special events. This year, the choir is branching out to perform at two choir festivals, as well as internationally, said Julia Galvan, choir director and music teacher.
“I’m really excited about singing in front of the Pope,” said fifth-grader Suzanna Nguyen, 10.
About 20 students in the choir will be traveling to Rome the day after Christmas to sing for Pope Francis at the Papal Mass on Jan. 1. The students will spend eight days abroad and have the opportunity to take a day trip to Assisi, see the Colosseum and have a private tour of the Sistine Chapel before coming together with other student choirs to sing for Pope Francis.
This is the third time the school choir has performed for the Pope, said Alvarado.
“I am so excited I actually get to go to the Vatican,” said Co.
The students have been training since school started, giving up their chance to sleep in on late-start Wednesdays for choir practice. The practice sessions start with vocal warm-ups and students are learning songs in English, Latin, Italian and German, explained Galvan.
“It’s fun and I really like it,” said fifth-grader Noah Anoc, 10, adding that his favorites to sing are the church hymns.
Suzanna Nguyen said she wanted to join the school choir since she was 4 years old. She said she loves it “because you get to sing about God, and you get to sing about what you love.”