Why Pearland High’s Kantorei choir might seem to be everywhere this holiday season
Alvin M. Keeling
2 min read
Think your vacation is busy? The Victorian costumes of the singers of the Kantorei Honor Choir at Pearland High School won’t be spending much time in the closet this holiday season, as the group performs throughout December in a dizzying array of venues, including schools, civic events, churches and the Texas Medical Center.
At the tree-lighting event at Independence Park, 3449 Pearland Parkway, Santa Claus will join community leaders for a lively program that will end with fireworks.
The next day, the Kantorei singers will ride on a trailer for the Pearland hometown Christmas Parade, which begins at 6 p.m. at FM 518 (Broadway) and travels from Old Alvin Road to Pearland Parkway.
“At both events, and maybe every stop on their Christmas tour, we’ll have them all decked out in Dickensian costumes,” said Arwen Jackson, president of the choir’s second-year parent recall club.
The choir managed to put together the richly detailed costumes for the 22 members.
“We worked all summer to make it happen,” Jackson said.
Kantorei will also perform on Sunday December 5th at Dickens on the Strand in Galveston and will represent Pearland High School in the Dickensian Parade.
Kantorei’s seniors are Ellie Ambro, Grace Elliott, Shelby Garrett, Maggie Giokas, Cassidy Gissendanner, Isabella (Bella) Gonzalez, Kelley Greer, Caroline Holmes, Taylor Jackson, Sydney Olivier and Micah Ruth.
The juniors of the honorary choir are Aiden Cedillo, Nicole Dominguez, Grace (Gracie) Fitch, James Ford, Sean Hughes, Alex Milton, Tanner Phan, Evie Richeson, Morgan Rushing, Cristian Salinas and Drew Swinson.
The chief conductor is Michael Kessler. The assistant director is Jo Beth Wasicek.
Kessler hosts the group’s performances at Pearland ISD schools, while Jackson books the singers at events outside the district.
The Christmas tour will include some of each, with stops at Pearland Masonic Lodge, Pearland First Baptist Church, downtown Houston, Pearland Junior High East, Pearland First United Methodist Church, at the Houston Galleria Mall, Pearland Junior High West, Pearland High School, Texas Medical Center, Houston Hospice, Ronald McDonald House, and Kemah Boardwalk.
Other performances will include vocals at the Pearland ISD administration building, the Pearland Police Department and Constellation Field in Sugar Land, Jackson said.
The fun won’t stop at the end of the vacation.
“The choir doesn’t have an off season,” Jackson said.
However, they will change their costumes.
“Their uniform depends on the event. For example, boys wear tuxedos and girls wear long dresses for the annual party because it’s a formal event, but they have Kantorei T-shirts for singing in elementary schools, ”Jackson said.
For more information on Kantorei and other Pearland High School choirs, call 281-412-1630 or visit pearlandhighschoolchoir.com.
Don Maines is a freelance writer who can be contacted at donmaines@att.net
