Crowds drink up Cider Celebration

It seemed that everyone, real or imagined, was on hand for the sixth annual Cider Celebration—whether it was Santa Claus and his elves, members of the PLNU community, gingerbread men or the Grinch who stole Christmas.

“[This was] the most enjoyable Christmas performance I’ve ever seen,” said PLNU President Bob Brower.

The event took place last Thursday and Friday with performances at 6 and 8 p.m. in Crill Performance Hall. Cider Celebration drew students, faculty, staff and members of the surrounding community, with tickets for Friday night performances selling out that week. Hot cider was provided between shows.

Conducted by professor Daniel Jackson, the concert featured the members of chorale and concert choir, accompanied by the PLNU orchestra. The evening began with lively Christmas tunes sung by Extol, a group of 12 selected from the PLNU concert choir. As Extol sang, dancers made their way into the auditorium, twirling in the aisles and setting the stage for special appearances by Santa and his elves, who handed out candy to the audience.

The choir co-presidents, senior Dustin Janzen and junior Bethany Brautigam, acted as the masters of ceremony.

“I really enjoy the emcee position because you get to interact with the audience in a way no one else can,” said Janzen.

As the night progressed, so did the familiar story of A Christmas Carol, with Janzen playing a Scrooge-like character who is visited by three spirits. The reenactment allowed for entertaining introductions to various numbers in the program. Audience favorites this year included a swoon-worthy Spanish rendition of “The Man You Love” and a “Polka Special,” with an accordion, a tuba and German accents that threw the crowd into laughter.

As the evening began to wind down, Jackson and the concert choir set Christmas antics aside and sought to remind the audience through song that the birth of Christ is the reason for celebrating. And in keeping with tradition, the night concluded with the singing of Peter Lutkin’s “The LORD bless you and keep you.”

The event requires months of preparation.

“In July, I pick the music … order the costumes and order the orchestration,” said Jackson via e-mail. He noted that selecting the music is “the most difficult job” because “the music must be varied.”

And though Cider Celebration is over, the choir still has a long road ahead of it.

“Up next is our Hawaiian tour, CD recording, Chapman festival, Choral Spectrum and graduation,” said Jackson. “They will prepare for these activities with a weekend retreat in the mountains.”

But in the midst of all these activities, Jackson says he will remain confident.

“I feel good as new goals are set,” said Jackson. “There is actually more happiness and contentment working toward a goal than obtaining it.”