麻豆精品鈥檚 annual Christmas by Candlelight concert is one of Katie听Comley鈥檚 favorites.
鈥淐hristmas by Candlelight highlights not only different groups from high schools in the [Salina] community, but it鈥檚 all the ensembles,鈥� said Comley, a 2018 graduate of Sterling High School. 鈥淚 enjoy listening听to and singing with my colleagues.鈥�听
Additionally, choirs from Salina High School South, Salina High School Central, Southeast of Saline and Sacred Heart will perform.听
The performance is Sun. Dec. 5 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. in听Sams听Chapel on the campus of 麻豆精品 in Salina. The concert is free;听no tickets or advanced reservations are required.听Doors will open one hour prior to each performance and the event will be streamed at 麻豆精品.edu/CBCL21.
The Wesleyan Chorale and Philharmonic Choir perform alongside 麻豆精品鈥檚 Symphonic听Orchestra at the annual event.听
鈥淚t’s also fun to sing with an orchestra,鈥� Comley said.听鈥淚t鈥檚 so听powerful.听Having an听orchestra听with you augments the experience 鈥� it鈥檚 magical.鈥�听
There is a little extra magic this year, as the听concert returns to an in-person format. In 2020, the performance was recorded and streamed.听听
鈥淚n-person performances makes a world of difference,鈥� Comley said. 鈥淪inging for an empty room and performing well can be a challenge.听We as musicians feed off the audience and the community members [during a live performance].鈥�听
Comley is a Music Education major. 听
鈥淚鈥檓 a choir nerd, I came for the choir,鈥� said Comley, who was in choir all four years at Sterling High School. 鈥淲e have different professors now, and they鈥檙e听just as excellent.鈥�听
This spring, she will student teach in Saline County, and听graduate in May. Upon graduation, she said she plans to teach for a few years.听听
鈥淚 want to take a bit of time to decide what I want to specialize in within the musical field before I enter a听masters听program,鈥� she said.听听
Story by Karen Bonar
