As the lights dim and the first note rises, dozens of voices turn into one. In front of a near sold-out crowd, each singer focuses and stays steady while listening to one another as they sing the opening theme to the Christmas movie Home Alone. This moment reflects more than a performance; it’s the culmination of months of hard work and dedication in putting together a concert that will leave a lasting impression on the audience. 

The Varsity choir will perform for the second time alongside the Austin Symphony Orchestra tonight at the Long Center. The first performance was held last night. It consisted of the orchestra musicians and choir students, while the movie played beside them on a large screen.

According to Head Choir Director Lisa Holt, Maestro Peter Bay, music director of the Austin Symphony Orchestra, asked a trusted colleague which high school choir in Austin would be the strongest and best-prepared partner for a collaboration of this scale and Cedar Park High School was recommended. Because performing in a highly professional environment was something new for the choir, Holt said they spent a large part of rehearsal time focusing on executing professional standards. 

“Musically, their ability to follow a conductor has grown tremendously,” Holt said. “They are also far more aware of how film scores are composed, synchronized and recorded. Personally, I have seen increased confidence and focus. They understand that their role matters and that excellence is expected, not optional.”

While this was a new directing experience for Holt, it was also a first for sophomore choir student Averie Dominguez. She said performing with a live orchestra is such a different experience than a traditional choir concert because in normal concerts, you don’t perform with an orchestra, and definitely don’t get to watch a movie.

“I feel like over the time that I’ve been a part of this program, I’ve developed a lot more skill within my vocal performance and am beyond excited to perform this show,” Dominguez said. “I hope that the audience gets to feel a live, awesome experience that will make them feel like they’re in the movie.”

In addition to growing as singers, Holt also hopes to open the door to more collaborations with arts organizations across Austin. 

“Experiences like this expand students’ artistic horizons and strengthen the connection between schools and the professional arts community,” Holt said. “My goal is for collaborations like this to become a regular part of what we offer our students.”

According to senior choir student Charlotte Griffin, with the way the movie is set up, the conductors have a click track in their ears playing the tempo and letting the conductors know where to line up with the movie. She said it is a difficult skill to master, but it has helped them develop the entire choir’s skills in following the conductor.

“Our choir program has been getting better every year, and the fact that we were chosen to perform with the Austin Symphony Orchestra over countless other choirs in the greater Austin area shows how committed and talented every student in the choir is,” Griffin said. “We are also so lucky to have our amazing directors who not only push us to grow, but also advocate for us and make events like these possible.”

Griffin hopes that the audience can tell how much work they have put into the preparation for this concert. She also hopes they can feel the holiday spirit and appreciate the musicianship of the orchestra and choir, not just in Home Alone, but in any movie they watch. 

“Music is so important to the emotions that movies can portray,” Griffin said. “Being able to be a part of the music is such an honor.”

This performance is something brand new for the choir program. Holt said performances like these will create lifelong memories, and the students will never forget singing a film score live for such a grand audience. 

“This is a milestone not just for our choir program, but for the students themselves,” Holt said. “Being part of the first collaboration of this magnitude sets a new standard for what they believe is possible. It tells them that their work, discipline and artistry are worthy of a professional stage and that they belong in those spaces.”