The Holiday Season: Choral SoundPax

Mark Hayes's arrangement transforms this Thompson classic into a concert showstopper that balances accessibility with genuine sophistication. The flashy piano part and full instrumental accompaniment give your choir a genuinely polished, radio-ready sound without requiring vocal virtuosity, making it ideal for choirs that want to program something contemporary and seasonally relevant that still feels professionally arranged.

This is a song that swings with confidence and warmth. The arrangement evokes the glamour and sophisticated fun of mid-century Hollywood, with piano flourishes and instrumental textures that feel both festive and urbane. It's seasonal without being saccharine, celebratory without being earnest.

This arrangement speaks to choirs programming holiday concerts who want something jazzy and modern rather than traditional. It works equally well for high school and adult choirs looking for a polished, entertaining piece that audiences recognize and enjoy.

• Lean into the swing feel with your rhythm section; the groove matters as much as precision, so encourage your pianists and any accompanying instrumentalists to play with a relaxed, behind-the-beat sensibility rather than metronomic exactness.
• Balance the energy of the instrumental parts with clarity in the vocal lines. The Hayes arrangement is generous with accompaniment, so rehearse with the recorded accompaniment early and often so singers don't get buried.
• Shape the dynamics in conversation with the arrangement's peaks and valleys. Hayes builds momentum deliberately, so resist the urge to sing at full volume from the start; reserve your power for the genuine climactic moments.

Place this as a centerpiece in your holiday concert, perhaps closing the first half or opening the second. Its theatrical energy and popular appeal make it an effective contrast to more traditional or reverent holiday repertoire, and audiences lean in when they recognize this iconic song.

• Phrasing and interpretation in a jazz-influenced idiom
• Balancing vocal lines against a complex instrumental texture
• Interpreting swing rhythms and syncopation
• Sustaining energy and shape across a longer choral work