Choir heads to The Grotto for end of the term ‘reward’

It’s the time of year again that sends chills running down Kevin Lambert’s spine.

In his third year as the Mt. Hood choir director, Lambert said he gets jazzed on the idea of his choirs performing at The Grotto as part of the annual Festival of Lights concert on Dec. 1 in Northeast Portland, singing at 9 p.m.

“It’s a really weird choir time, but we’re going to play our 40 minutes, then they kind of kick us out,” he said.

Nonetheless, Lambert is excited for the opportunity for his choir to perform at The Grotto and to utilize the  distinct sound in the room.

A lot of his new, first-year students have already performed at The Grotto.

“It’s nice because most of our singers were singing somewhere in the East County and have performed at The Grotto every December. So, they’re excited to play there again. Plus, their parents and friends will be there,” Lambert said, hoping for a nice turnout. “We would love to get as many people out (there) as possible.”

After working hard in the classroom all term long, both the MHCC Symphonic Choir and Chamber Choir will take to the stage and showcase their skills for the first time to the public.

Lambert said students will be rewarded for their efforts throughout the Fall Term.

“They put in so much work and they really deserve to have a place (like The Grotto) to perform and take advantage of that place and (its distinct) acoustics. That venue magnifies the things you do!

“It’s kind of a double-edged sword because if a choir does something that isn’t ideal… the Grotto can carry (sound) for four or five seconds and then the audience knows it’s bad. But that’s why we’re minimizing those mistakes now,” he said.

Lambert gets a kick from the performers’ effort alone.

“All of the hard work that they put in… this is why I dove into (teaching),” he said. It reminds him of his own love for singing.

“I come from a classical pianist background and joined my first choir when I was 6. But I’m not a classically trained singer,” he said. He described his teaching as “coming from hearing as much as I like to hear, and then match that with the vision that is in my brain.”

What’s even more exciting for the choir program is that its numbers have risen sharply recently.

“The choirs have grown quite a bit, almost double in size in the last two years,” Lambert said. He plans to keep the momentum going. “I want to build better relationships with the surrounding high schools. The high schools around here are phenomenal.”