Holiday Magic performs virtually

By: Scott Letourneau

It is an annual Olathe South tradition for the performing arts departments to host a week of performances in early December to celebrate the holiday season, and this year will not be an exception. The Holiday Magic performing arts event will be a week of evening performances from the Olathe South band, choir, and orchestra in that order, lasting from Dec. 7 – Dec. 11.

The main concern for performing arts staff and students is how they can safely perform the Holiday Magic show during the 2020-2021 school year, and apparently, they still do not have a concise answer.

“I’m not quite sure what our performance plans are yet for this year,” junior southside singer Rowan Farha said, “We’ll have to wait and see what Covid numbers are looking like and hope for the best.”

The rehearsal process has been adjusted as well. In addition to their in-person class time, performing arts students in band, orchestra, and choir are required to attend the other hybrid session virtually through Zoom. This is to ensure that students are practicing at home and to prepare them for their performances.

“Our rehearsal process is half virtual now, and it’s really odd having technical issues when you’re trying to sing,” Farha said, “But I still love it as much as other years.”

Despite the addition of multiple sessions, the rehearsal process has, for the most part, remained unchanged.

“It’s pretty much the same minus social distancing, masks and bell covers,” senior trombonist Mathew Hufford said, “We still play, practice, and work on improving our skills.”

Although the teachers have not set anything in stone, a live stream of the students performing at school that can be watched at home has been a common suggestion.

“We don’t know how we are going to perform this winter because we haven’t had a set answer from the district,” Hufford said, “But it looks like it would be a livestream or a recording that would be sent to the parents that would be performed either in the gym or the auditorium for proper social distancing.”

Despite whatever the performing guidelines will be, the performing arts students will continue to strive for excellence in whatever they do, whether that is Holiday Magic or practicing a song in class for the first time.

“We are simply trying to learn, have fun, and spread a bit of joy through music,” Hufford said, “Regardless of if it is ‘Christmas’ or ‘Kwanza’ music.”