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Resounding voices and stunning symphonies filled Syracuse University’s Hendricks Chapel Sunday. Visitors from across the city of Syracuse emphatically applauded live music that kicked off the holiday festivities.

“Holidays at Hendricks is awesome,” Brian Konkol, dean of Hendricks Chapel, said.

Hendricks Chapel hosted its annual Holidays at Hendricks show Sunday. It featured a collection of student performers from the Setnor School of Music and the College of Visual and Performing Arts; the Hendricks Chapel Choir, SU’s Symphony Orchestra and the Morton Schiff Jazz Ensemble. Since the chapel was built in 1930, the show has been an annual tradition.

This year’s group of performances opened with a medley of holiday classics by the Hendricks Chapel Choir, including “Joy to the World,” “Deck the Halls” and “Jingle Bells.” The choir also performed variations on holiday standards and songs from cultures across the world, including one sung in Spanish and the classic “Carol of the Bells” recited in its original form — a Ukrainian song called “Shchedryk,” first written over 100 years ago.

José “Peppie” Calvar, a Setnor professor and Hendricks Chapel Choir director, is in his 12th year as the chair of applied music and performance at the Setnor School and serves as an artistic director for the performing groups. He cites music as a way to integrate different cultures, a motivation for his work.

“Part of what makes music and our culture beautiful is the ability for cultures to coexist with one another, particularly in a time and a season such as this,” Calvar said.

Calvar said he sees the event as a way to unite show attendees and provide belonging during the holiday season. He’s fortunate to make music for and with other people, especially students.

“Over the years, we’ve brought in more music-based student groups and made the event more inclusive so that more students can be seen and heard doing what it is that they do best,” Calvar said.

Avery Magee | Asst. Photo Editor

The Hendricks Chapel Choir, dressed in blue and white robes, sings to an audience of Syracuse students and locals.

SU junior and choir performer, Nick Dekaney, said there was great value placed on the concert by the performers and its unified effort. With this event being the largest of the year, Dekaney said it motivates each student to put in their full effort to deliver their best work.

Beyond musical performance, Dekaney credited the chapel staff’s behind-the-scenes work, saying the show’s lighting and camera operations helped deliver the best experience for performers and the audience alike.

Calvar said the role of music around this time of year is to bring together people of different identities, experiences and backgrounds. He sees American culture as smaller subcultures brought to the United States by immigrants over time, with music being the key unifying factor.

“We all belong with each other and music is the fabric that interweaves the little components of those various little quilts,” Calvar said.

The show concluded with the lighting of candles from each audience member during a rendition of “Silent Night.” As the choir walked out of the chapel, gently singing the song’s end, the audience soon followed.

Dekaney said it was a true privilege to be a part of an event like Holidays at Hendricks that spurs community engagement year after year. All the performers need to do is connect with one person emotionally to achieve their goals.

“Music is extremely powerful at all times of the year, especially during the holidays,” Dekaney said. “Even one person in the audience, if you can see an emotional connection, then you know it’s all been worth it because you know you made a difference.”

Published on December 9, 2024 at 12:52 am