Douglas performed eight pieces. Two of them included both orchestra and choir, and the six left were exclusively sung by the choir students. Photo courtesy Concert Choir.

Symphonic String Orchestra and Concert Choir light up Grotto

Posted Dec. 7, 2022

By Katie Liang

Features Editor

Symphonic String Orchestra and Concert Choir performed Christmas pieces together at The Grotto's 2022 Festival of Lights on Dec. 5.

Douglas performed eight pieces. Two of them included both orchestra and choir, and the six left were exclusively sung by the choir. The two pieces the musicians presented together were Hallelujah from Christ on the Mount of Olives by Ludwig Van Beethoven and What Sweeter Music by John Rutter. The rest of the Christmas numbers were Mary, Did You Know?, Coventry Carol, Shchedryk (Carol of the Bells), African Noel, O Holy Night, and Silent Night.

The orchestra was a small group consisting of 20 musicians from the Symphonic group: six first violinists, six second violinists, four violists, three cellists, and one bassist. All the performers were conducted by choir director Christopher Silva. Orchestra director Michelle Lindberg prepared the pieces with the string players before rehearsing together with the choir.

Also known as the National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother, The Grotto is a 62-acre Roman Catholic ministry of the Order of Friar Servants of Mary shrine and sanctuary established in 1924 by Servite Fr. Ambrose Mayer in the Madison South district of Portland, Oregon. This year's Christmas Festival of Lights will take place from Nov. 25 until Dec. 30, but will close on Christmas Day.

Video courtesy DDHS Symphony and Choir.

Local schools, churches, and civic organizations perform inside the Chapel of Mary to audiences and provide entertainment for all ages, including outdoor caroling, puppet shows, Biblical performances, and music players. Choirs all around Oregon, including high school and college choirs, are also featured and performing in The Grotto.

For the past two years, David Douglas could not perform at the festival together due to COVID-19 restrictions. In 2020, The Grotto was canceled, and Troubadours performed alone in 2021. DDHS musicians have been playing at the Festival of Lights for over 30 years.

“It feels great being back at the Grotto with the Concert Choir and Orchestra,” said Silva.

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