Many international hotels around world recognize and celebrate the tradition of Christmas with a ‘Tree Lighting Ceremony’. A large Christmas Tree is erected in the hotel and a celebration occurs to ‘light’ the tree.
Last Friday evening, members of the Junior Choir, directed by Ms Jessie, represented UISG at the Ritz Carlton Tree Lighting Ceremony, charming the hotel management and guests with their singing, festive dress and professional behaviour.
Drawn from the larger Year 1 – 3 Junior Choir, the Ritz Carlton requested just 16 of our Junior Choir members for the performance, due to the constraints of a small stage poised over water. As Year 3 members will move on to the Intermediate Choir next year, many of them were part of the ceremony. The 16 did a wonderful job in representing their choir.
The Junior Choir sang ‘That’s Christmas to me’, ‘Catch a Falling Star’ and ‘Sing we now of Christmas’, before the lighting. The choir members were then asked to help ‘pull the switch’ to light up the glorious tree, with the Canton Tower vying for attention in the background!
Once the Ritz Carlton Christmas Tree was lit, the Junior Choir sang three more songs: ‘Give us Hope’, ‘Ring a Ring; and ‘O Christmas Tree’, to complete their contribution to the ceremony. Their singing must have worked wonders because Santa Claus was spotted coming down from the bridge next to the hotel !
Ms Jessie had an amazing ‘support crew’ of teachers and parents, who accompanied the children from UISG on an afternoon bus, made sure they were looked after, fed and changed in time for the rehearsal and performance. Mr Daniel, piano teacher in the Instrument Tuition Programme, lent his wonderful talent to accompanying the choir in their performance.
Glowing comments were received from the Ritz Carlton management and guests after the performance. Some members even managed to enjoy some of the fantastic festive food on offer. Congratulations Junior Choir members!
Ms Jessie Chen
Performing Arts: Primary Music
Junior Choir director
