7 Songs A-Singing: Ingredients for a Satisfying Seasonal Program

Programming your holiday concert can be like decorating your home for the holidays—you have a combination of heirlooms, sparkling new tinsel, traditional images, ornaments you picked up while traveling, and even that funky flamingo wearing reindeer antlers. It’s a real art to combine these elements to create a meaningful and smooth presentation. While the usual criteria for selecting music still applies (including educational value, variety of styles, representing multiple historical periods, etc.), there are additional layers to consider for holiday programs.

Disclaimer: Every school or community has its own policies, traditions, and rules about the use of sacred music. This article is written from the perspective of creating a religiously neutral program—one in which sacred music is included based on its educational value rather than religious context.

7 Ingredients for a Satisfying Seasonal Program:

There’s no magic formula for programming a perfect holiday concert, but here are some ingredients that you can consider when choosing seasonal literature:

1. Dramatic Opener

It’s always important to seize the attention of your audience with the first selection. This can be accomplished with a boisterous fanfare, or you can create just as much impact with a simple unison chant. Set the mood for the audience with a full choir processional, or perhaps a spotlight shining on a soloist off-stage. The first piece on your program will tell your listeners a lot about what to expect from the rest of the program so find a way to invite them to pay close attention. See Ideas for Openers .

2. Familiar Carol Arrangement

Let’s face it, if your concert is in December then many of your audience members will be expecting to hear a carol they recognize. Aside from being a crowd-pleaser carols can be very valuable as a teaching tool. There are resources for learning the history of carols including how/why they were sung, and many carols have interesting lyrics that can be taught from a poetic perspective. The homophonic nature of carols makes them a useful tool in the classroom for sight-reading, chord analysis, and more. Include in your program an elaborate arrangement, or simply sing the basic carol (in unison or parts) and ask the audience to sing along. See Christmas Carol Ideas .

3. Holiday Pop Hit

For many, it just isn’t December until you hear someone sing “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” If you feel like you’ve rocked around the Christmas tree one too many times, don’t despair! Creative arrangers are regularly giving us fresh settings of these classic tunes. Contemporary harmonies, orchestrated accompaniments, and unique styles are just some of the updates they have made that will make it feel like a brand new piece to you. See Holiday Pop Song Ideas , and review the scores while listening to the professional recordsings on our Score & Sound Playlist !

4. Unexpected Novelty

Here’s a chance for your choir to show a little personality! Novelty songs can provide a lighthearted moment in contrast to the heavier, more serious parts of your program. A bit of choreography added in will give your singers a chance to loosen up their body (and mind) to help maintain good posture and stress-free technique. For many in your choir and audience, this will be their favorite piece—that doesn’t mean you weren’t able to teach them the beauty of the more challenging pieces, but you have found a way to connect with people who might not have otherwise. Plus, it’s okay to just have FUN! See Novelty Holiday Song Ideas , and review the scores while listening to the professional recordings on our Score & Sound Playlist !

5. Secular Winter Text

Celebrate the non-holiday joys of the season, too! Each school or community has different traditions or rules about whether sacred or holiday-related music can be performed. Regardless of your situation, secular winter texts should not be overlooked when planning a balanced and inclusive program. With the familiarity of so many Christmas lyrics, melodies, and scenes, you can create a fresh experience by choosing a piece with an unfamiliar tune and text. See Winter Song Ideas , and review the scores while listening to the professional recordings on our Score & Sound Playlist !

6. Music from a Variety of Cultures

Sharing the traditions of different people and cultures will add a lot to your concert. These pieces assist you in creating a religiously neutral program, provide an opportunity to teach new facets of technique and style, and may give opportunities for different instrumental accompaniments (which could be performed by students). See Multicultural Song Ideas .

7. Unforgettable Finale

You’ve taken your audience on a memorable journey through this concert, now send them off with an unforgettable finale. Similar to the opener, you can make a lasting impression with a boisterous send-off or a reflective and sweet goodbye. Join multiple choirs and alumni together for your final number, or surround your audience and sing illuminated by candles (battery-operated, of course). Whatever you do, make it unforgettable in a way that leaves your audience in awe of what your singers have accomplished in this performance. See Ideas for an Unforgettable Finale , and review the scores while listening to the professional recordings on our Score & Sound Playlist !

Conclusion

Hopefully these suggestions will spark ideas for you as you select repertoire for your upcoming seasonal programs. It’s always inspiring to hear the creative ideas of other choral directors—share with us your programming ideas for holiday concerts in the comments below!