Santa's Choir: 2-Part Choral Octavo

Picture the North Pole's cheeriest staff meeting: joyful, a little ridiculous, and driven by a propulsive rock groove that makes you want to move. The piece bounces with holiday warmth while the novelty angle gives permission to have genuine fun without apology.

Middle school and high school choirs ready for repertoire that makes students laugh and keeps rehearsals energized. It works especially well for choirs that contain newer singers or groups building confidence; the accessible 2-part writing removes technical barriers while the fun subject matter keeps singers invested.

• Lean into the rock attitude. The groove matters more than pristine vowel unification here. Let your singers feel the backbeat.
• Use the SoundTrax CD to lock the ensemble into the style and tempo early in rehearsal. The professional band arrangement models exactly the energy you're after.
• Balance humor with clarity. The lyrics tell the story, so make sure diction serves the comedic timing without sacrificing the choral sound.
• Keep the "Deck the Hall" moments crisp and recognizable so audiences catch the reference. A slight ritard into those quotes helps the joke land.

Save this for the second half of your holiday concert, after you've established your serious choral credentials. It's an ideal closer before intermission or a show-ending crowd-pleaser. Pair it with one or two traditional selections to frame the humor effectively and remind audiences that your choir takes music seriously even when the subject matter doesn't.

• Rock and pop rhythmic phrasing and groove awareness
• Two-part harmonic independence and blend
• Diction and comedic timing in choral singing
• Stylistic contrast (moving between traditional and contemporary musical language)
• Singing with energy and character while maintaining vocal technique