Winter by Candlelight ‘26: 'Long is the winter, dark is the night/ So come, let us sing by candlelight' -Cate’s vocalists, 2022-present

By Henry Chen '27 and Oliver Zheng '27

Winter by Candlelight ranks preeminently among the many concerts Cate musicians perform. In an extroverted world that constantly demands more, more, more, having a moment of introspection led by friends on stage is a rarity. What isn’t a rarity is the many students involved in the production, with over 100 members of the Cate community participating in the concert. Cate’s vocal groups, Chorale, Camerata, and No Strings Attached, were joined by the Orchestra and Chamber Ensemble, as well as the Dance Company and speakers from the Theatre groups. Rehearsed throughout the trimester, Winter by Candlelight is a special experience that enriches both student and community connection. Performing Arts Department Chair John Knecht shared his thoughts on the concert, saying “It’s a moment when the campus is covered in Christmas lights, and the Chapel is decked out in candles and greens. The show’s music and spoken word are intended to evoke a sense of wonder, peace, and light, while encouraging our community to reflect on their hopes for the future.”

This year, the Cate Orchestra included many student conductors, specifically seniors Eric Jin ‘26, Naomi Chen ‘26, Lisa Sun ‘26, and Ramya Bangaru ‘26 all veterans of the program. In addition, vocalist Elise Tsai ‘26 led “Long Is the Winter” to begin the program, another example Mr. Knecht brought up for “[Upperclassman leaders] who play their parts with confidence, helping others lock in when needed.” Student participation also extends to the audience. This year, Ramya Bangaru ‘26, Lisa Sun ‘26, and Paloma Rudnicki ‘27 sang “Last Christmas” with the entire audience singing along, and the Cate Dancers joined the Orchestra for “Dance of the Tumblers”. As Mr. Knecht put it, “Those are special moments where music is greater than the notes being played on the page.”

Exchange student Coco '27 performing Dance of the Tumblers with the Dance Company

Vocal instructor Gabriel Di Gennaro (most fondly known as Deeg) specifically highlighted the program's growth over the past few years. For the opening song, “Long is the Winter,” singers hold candles in their hands, and the flame gets passed down from the lead senior singer. This year, the musical program invited anyone from the community to join and learn the piece. Deeg shared that in total, three people from the orchestra and two faculty community members joined the singers; “I’m glad to see the singers in the aisle continuing this tradition,” he said, “and I’m enthusiastic about introducing the song to the broader Cate community.” This is the fourth time students have performed this song during the annual concert. For the vocal groups, Deeg noted improvements in blending and responsiveness from a conductor's perspective. 

As a part of the student audience, Max van Someren ‘27 immersed himself in the music, particularly delighting in “Lux Aeterna” by Camerata and White Christmas by No Strings. Beyond a minor complaint about less cohesion in the concert’s tone compared to prior years, Max enjoyed the concert: “Having a moment to listen to good music, stop, reset, and think about the year to come is really valuable,” he commented, “the songs were well-executed and thought-provoking.”

Each year, the members of an ensemble change, and what’s more important than the production of music is the process of making music with various people. The performance's particular tone really emphasizes the value of collective support within an ensemble.