Performers Also Work Extra Holiday Hours: Noel Edison, Conductor

Liz Parker, Classical 96.3 Blog

During the hectic holiday season, people in the service industry work longer hours: courier drivers, retail workers, and airline staff – but we don’t think about the performers who also put in extra hours entertaining us. Curious, I approached a few of them about how they get through the holidays without strain.

Q: The holidays can be a lot of fun for the fans who love to be entertained – but it’s a lot of fatigue for the performers. What is the hardest thing about performing over the holidays? Be honest.
Noel: To be honest, I actually enjoy performing over the holiday season. When you conduct so many choirs, there is so much variety in what you are doing, you never get bored! Now, all the programming that has to happen in October ….that’s tedious!

Q: What is the best thing about performing over the holidays?
Noel: The variety of the music. Also, the Christmas season is synonymous with choirs – it’s the best time to showcase our talents, to make a connection with audiences. Generally, the best “feel good” time for concerts. And the knowledge that it all ends on December 25, hard stop.

Read the full interview here.