The St. Anthony’s High School chorus performed with festive spirit to a full house at their Christmas concert on Friday, Dec. 12.
Tickets were sold out to eager parents along with special guests Bishop John Barres and Superior General of the Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn Brother Damian Novello.
The principal of St. Anthony’s, Brother David Migliorino, welcomed everyone, and told the audience to “Put all your troubles away and b wowed by this Christmas concert.”
The lights dimmed, the crowd hushed, and the students filtered into the auditorium through the aisles singing Gregorian chants in Latin.
Within a couple of minutes, more than 600 students had filled the stage, flanked on either side by tall glittering Christmas trees.
Brother Joshua DiMauro posed a striking figure in his Franciscan frocks, conducting the choir with strong sweeping motions or gentle little flicks.
Brother Joshua received his Master’s in music at Notre Dame and has served as choral director at St. Anthony’s for 43 years.
Nicholas Jean-Charles, a freshman whose favorite song to perform is “O Holy Night,” said that he admired how much Brother Joshua could be there for the chorus with so much on his plate. “If he sees that we’re struggling…he’ll make sure to lift us up.”
Brother Joshua, whose favorite song to perform is also “O Holy Night,” spoke on the beauty of chorus. “Even though one can’t sing as well as the other,” he said, “When all the voices are one, it produces just glorious glorious music.”
After 15 minutes, the chorus students left for a brief intermission, but the Christmas tunes were still coming. The Brooklyn Brass performed an intermezzo while the chorus prepared their accessories
The group was complete with a trumpet, French horn, and tuba along with Dr. Young Park on the piano. Junior Carrie LaBarca also performed a wonderfully delicate harp solo during the intermezzo.
The chorus trickled back into the auditorium, boys and girls with their red ties and red bows singing call and response to another Gregorian chant, “Puer Natus in Bethlehem.”
Bright snowflakes lit up the side walls and the stage lights turned towards the audience for a sing-a-along. The chorus donned top hats with fake holly clippings tucked in their brims while singing “Joy to the World” and other songs with the crowd.
Some parents and crowd members sang along, but most just continued to look on adoringly.
“I always tell the kids,” Brother Joshua began, “‘Listen, these parents are coming in to the audience, they’re tired from work, the stock prices have gone down, they’ve been stuck on the Long Island Rail Road…but when they come and see the twinkle in your eye, that to them brings them so much joy, especially at Christmas time.’”
The chorus has been practicing since the beginning of the school year for this Christmas concert. Brother Joshua and Assistant Director of the Chorus Chris Farrell hold practice every day for different groups of the chorus, and then for the 2 weeks leading up to the concert, the chorus practices together every single day.
This concert was Addison Aloni’s first. Aloni, a freshman whose favorite song to perform is “Isay Isay,” followed in her brother Joshua Aloni’s footsteps. “I got involved in choir because of my brother,” she said. “How he loved it so much got me so excited to sing.”
Joshua Aloni, a junior whose favorite song to perform is “O Holy Night,” is happy to now have a leadership role in the chorus as a tenor section leader where he can help the chorus community.
Nicholas Gentile, a sophomore whose favorite song to perform is “Sleigh Ride,” spoke on Father Joshua’s commitment to the chorus. “He loves what he does, and he’s always passionate about what we do.”
The chorus finished strong with a wonderful rendition of “Hallelujah,” over 600 sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses all singing in harmony.
“We honor the message of Christmas…in song and celebration,” Brother David said to close the evening. “And this year, in 2025 more than ever, our world is clamoring for Christmas.”
