Great Performance At Great Hall

The Immaculate Conception School Honor Choir sang Christmas carols and later invited the audience in the Ellis Island Great Hall to join in. The Aquinas Honor Society of the Immaculate Conception School, Jamaica Estates, has written a book entitled Jacob's Gift that tells the story of how Danish immigrant Jacob Riis brought the tradition of Christmas caroling to America nearly 100 years ago. The students used real people and historic locations in the telling of their story. The book has made such an impression that the Queens Borough Public Library purchased 68 copies, one for every library branch in their system. Her Royal Highness Princess Benedikte of Denmark was sent an autographed copy of Jacob's Gift and commented that the Aquinas Honor Society's work was fantastic. She sent her best wishes with the students' continuous studies and with their great effort in promoting the best possible relations between the United States of America and Denmark.

The students created a dramatic reading of the book and used sound effects and songs to enhance their performance. On Saturday, December 13 they brought their performance to the Great Hall on Ellis Island. It made perfect sense, as Jacob Riis was an immigrant from Denmark who came to New York City in 1870. They received an invitation from Parks Ranger Dennis Mulligan to perform in the Great Hall. The students were joined by the Honor Choir of the Immaculate Conception School under the leadership of Mr. Ed Burkard, assisted by his daughter, Immaculate Conception schoolteacher Miss Roseanne Burkard.

The students numbered more than 50, and with parents and invited guests, including Principal Dori Breen and Pastor Father Jed Sumampong, C.P., boarded two buses and headed to Manhattan. It was a beautiful day when they arrived at Battery Park and took the ferry to Ellis Island and were greeted by Ranger Mulligan. They were escorted to the Great Hall and were amazed at its size and felt as if they were on hallowed ground. There were tourists gathered from all around the world waiting for the performance.

Aquinas student Sarah Villarin opened the performance with a greeting of welcome. She told the audience that the performance was dedicated to the memory of Nancy Cataldi, a friend of the school who had over the years helped the Aquinas group with numerous historical projects, including the writing of Jacob's Gift, who, sadly, had recently passed away. She was the president of the Historical Society of Richmond Hill, a town in Queens that was the home of Jacob Riis and his family for nearly 30 years, and the site where Christmas caroling was first introduced to America in 1911.

There was a twist to the American version of Christmas Caroling compared to the old European tradition. The European norm was to sing on street corners but Riis brought his carolers to the home of the sick and infirm, those who were unable to attend Midnight Mass, and would sing the traditional Christmas songs under their windows. It all started here. We might therefore say that New York City is America's Christmas Caroling Town!

After the dramatic reading, Mr. Ballenas, moderator of the Aquinas Honor Society, gave a brief PowerPoint presentation on how the book developed and about the characters and historic locations in the story. There are many interesting and historical references found in the book; among them is the fact that in the famous Triangle Hotel in Richmond Hill, Ernest R. Ball

wrote the great Irish song, "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling". Mr. Burkard graced the crowd by singing this very popular Irish ballad.

The Honor Choir then gave a wonderful performance of several beautiful Christmas songs, including "Carol of the Bells", "Silent Night" and "The First Noel". The event ended with a sing along with the audience invited to join in on many other traditional and modern songs, including "Frosty the Snowman", "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" and many more. The audience appreciated the performance and with great joy, clapped approvingly.

It was a spectacular event, and one that all of the students will never forget.

Alex Puni Samaroo is in seventh grade at Immaculate Conception School. This article was written for the school's monthly newspaper, The Flowering Lily.