By Alayna Een
The Draper Philharmonic & Choral Society’s King of Kings (composed and orchestrated by Jacob Lives and Tyler Teerlink) in Salt Lake City, Utah, is a delightful performance that offers something in every important style of Christmas music: traditional carols, fun holiday favorites, and new, moving hymns. King of Kings is the culmination of two years of deep reflection on the heavenly aspects of the Christmas season, resulting in new and powerful presentation of the familiar nativity story.
After an impressive preshow provided by Sotto Voce Strings, the concert begins with fun Christmas favorites performed by the Draper Philharmonic and Chorus and the Bells of Joyful Sound. The audience is immediately immersed in the magic of Christmas as festive holiday scenes and images, the work of projectionist Dave Bates, fill the stage. Sherri Jensen (Artistic Director), dressed in more gold tinsel than a tree, merrily conducts the performers through the first part of the program. In “Come, O Come,” soloists Jocelyn Schrader and Malia Mackay extend a heartfelt invitation through their beautiful singing and help signal the shift to the King of Kings portion of the program, which begins after the short intermission.
The nativity story is so ancient and familiar that many of us have whole phrases of the account in Luke 1 and 2 memorized, but King of Kings renews the old story by presenting fresh perspectives, highlighting lesser-known voices, and humanizing its characters. I feel that I have always known that Mary was Joseph’s “espoused wife,” and that Mary was called to be the “handmaid of the Lord” in bringing forth the son of God, but I never fully considered what that meant. Hearing Serena Mackerell (Mary) sing “I Know Not Why” in uncertain but heartfelt prayer and watching Logan Bradford (Joseph) confront feelings of anguish and betrayal and turn them to faith and trust in “Joseph’s Dream” has changed how I view the holy family—for good. Bradford’s impressive vocal and emotional command and Mackerell’s sweet and heartfelt singing unify the holy family, and their tender onstage interactions with young Jesus (William Covington)—whose cuteness cannot be overstated—truly portrays the love of a family.
While the holy family is undoubtedly the center of the story, King of Kings uses Simeon (Dustin Halliday), Anna (Vivian Mathias), and Herod (St. John Maxwell Holloway) to frame and contextualize the tale. Mathias and Halliday open the production with “A Light to the Gentiles,” expressing their faith in the coming messiah and in God’s promises to them. Near the end of the production, they sing with Mary and Joseph “May I See That Baby?” and beautifully portray what it means to wait upon the Lord. Holloway’s Herod is rich and powerful, in both appearance and operatic sound, as he sets the events of the story into motion, commanding the tax, confronting the wise men, and initiating the infanticide.
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With the direction of Jannalee Hunsaker (Production Manager), the expertise of David Jensen (Sound Engineer), the talent of Gail Johnsen and Ian Duffin (Costume Designers), and the help of many others, King of Kings stands as a visually impressive and aurally pleasing work that friends, family, and children can all enjoy together.
King of Kings by the Draper Philharmonic & Choral Society is a musical event that offers both fun Christmas favorites and holy, uplifting hymns. It combines familiar stories with fresh perspectives and is sure to add a little bit of heaven to your holiday celebrations. In the finale of the show, the performers unite in offering the invitation to “come and rejoice.” So come to Abravanel Hall in Salt Lake City, Utah, and rejoice with the performers of King of Kings!
Draper Philharmonic & Choral Society Presents King of Kings, Composed and Orchestrated by Jacob Lives and Tyler Teerlink. December 11 and 12, 2021, 7:00 PM
Alta High School, 11055 South Hawk Highway, Sandy, UT 84094 (December 11 performance); Abravanel Hall, 123 W S Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84101 (December 12 performance)
Tickets for Sunday, December 12 at Abravanel Hall are free, first come first serve
Draper Philharmonic & Choral Society Website
Draper Philharmonic & Choral Society Facebook Page
King of Kings Event Page
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