Caroling in the Holidays

Madrigals on Tour
 Anna has been busy with the Madison Madrigals the past two weeks caroling around the community.  She lost count of all of the performances, but it is somewhere between 10-12 plus 3 performances on the last day of school.  The group appeared everywhere from the Vienna Mayor's holiday reception to a memorial service for those who have lost loved ones this year sponsored by the local funeral home, to an assisted living facility, to a local country club to the Vienna rotary club to the local elementary and middle school music concerts.  She met a lot of community members along the way, including a resident of the assisted living facility that came up to the group afterwards to let them know he was an original member of the Madrigals back in 1962!

Joe & Theresa got to watch five of the 40 songs (that's right - Anna had 40 songs in her caroling binder) at the annual choir holiday concert on December 14.  Here is a link to the 2023 Madrigals Performances.  There is also a clip from the Madison Select Singers and their beautiful performance of the vocal piece from The Snowman, which they performance the week prior with the orchestra.  Anna ended the caroling season with three concerts the last day of school and caroling in the halls.  There was also a Secret Santa exchange with the choir members.  She definitely had a lot of fun with all of the events and has many great friends in her choir family.

In other holiday highlights:

  • Joe & Theresa attended the George Mason University holiday concert on December 3, although there seemed to be very little holiday music.  It was a good concert; however, the Madison Madrigals can compete with them any day (there may be some bias here).
  • Theresa & Anna went to see the Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith holiday show on December 4.  Theresa loves the Amy Grant Christmas album and was really looking forward to the show.  It did not go as planned.  First, Anna was not feeling well, especially after getting to the very high seating location.  Then, 20 minutes into the show there was a mad scramble four rows down as a man scrambled to get out and proceeded to projectile vomit on his way out.  Needless to say that distracted from the show.  In the end, Theresa & Anna left early.  Theresa has yet to listen to the Amy Grant Christmas album this season as it is now associated with vomit.
  • Theresa has been on the holiday party circuit at work with a retirement party thrown in.  Her big professional accomplishment was when the Secretary of Transportation stopped by the FTA holiday party and immediately ate a couple pieces of Theresa's fudge.
  • Theresa was slowed down a bit last week after falling while on a morning run and spraining her ankle.  She was more upset about the woman and her dog that ran by her and didn't even stop to see if she was ok (you generally do not see people lying on the sidewalk around the neighborhood,
    so it is a good indicator that there is a problem).  No running for several weeks.

Decorations are up and the Amazon delivery trucks are circling the neighborhood.  It must be the holidays!



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