The Holiday Season: 2-Part Choral Octavo

Mark Hayes transforms this classic into a full production number that feels contemporary rather than nostalgic. The arrangement balances accessibility for developing choirs with enough flash and rhythmic sophistication to engage experienced singers, making it genuinely singable while never sacrificing the song's inherent charm and swing.

It swings with infectious energy and that unmistakable Hollywood shimmer. The piece radiates warmth and celebration without ever feeling saccharine, balancing sophistication with genuine joy in a way that makes audiences smile and singers feel accomplished.

This works best for intermediate to advanced middle school choirs, high school choirs, and community ensembles with solid pitch control and rhythmic awareness. Singers need comfort with syncopation and a willingness to embrace a contemporary pop sound rather than traditional holiday styling.

• Lock the rhythm section's pocket early in rehearsal; the swing feel depends on confident rhythmic foundation from your strongest singers, which then allows others to settle into the groove.
• Shape the dynamics to highlight the song's natural call-and-response moments rather than maintaining a steady volume throughout; this reveals the arrangement's theatrical bones.
• Lean into the idiomatic language of the style. This isn't classical phrasing; the vowels should be energized and the articulation crisp, especially on the jazz-inflected figures.
• If using the recorded accompaniment, rehearse without it first so singers own the melody and harmonic independence, then layer the track in gradually to build confidence.

Position this as a closing piece or strategic highlight in a mixed holiday concert, especially if your program leans toward tradition elsewhere; the arrangement's theatrical flair and modern sensibility create a memorable contrast. It also works beautifully in a secular holiday showcase or pop choral concert, where its celebrity association and show-stopping arrangement justify prime placement.

• Singing syncopated rhythms with precision and fluency
• Maintaining swing feel and groove in an ensemble setting
• Blending pop and jazz vocal production with choral technique
• Navigating call-and-response and unison-to-harmony transitions
• Responding to dynamic and textural contrasts within a single piece