Christmas celebration decks city hall in dazzling lights
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West Jordan City Hall was decked out one last time with twinkling lights and the sounds of Christmas music on Dec. 3, while the community joyously joined in the celebration, lifting their own voices to sing and even to play along. Even Santa couldn't stand on the sidelines this year. Next year, the annual event will move to the new county library complex.
It was the last hurrah for the city’s annual Christmas celebration held in city hall, as residents spilled out into the hallway, listening to the West Jordan Symphony, Mountain West Chorale and West Jordan City Band on Dec. 3.
“I’m looking so forward to next year,” said Alena Balmforth, Arts Council Chair. “We’ll be able to do this at the new library in the auditorium.”
The new auditorium will seat 1,000, and will relieve the overcrowding issues of city hall, allowing more people to enjoy the West Jordan arts.
“We try to have as much of the arts council represented here as possible, and we pretty much do, which is such a wonderful thing,” Balmforth said.
This year’s celebration started with the symphony in the downstairs community room, which mixed things up with a Celtic Christmas piece and the Hallelujah Chorus from George Handel’s “Messiah.” The symphony’s director, Larry White, invited guests to sing or hum along with the Mountain West Chorale during the chorus.
The song was a preview to the Dec. 18 annual “Messiah” Sing-Along.
“We don’t do the whole thing,” White said. “If we did the whole thing, it would be three hours. We condense it and do the major choruses and major solos. And tonight you get a taste of that.”
The Mountain West Chorale followed with a performance on the grand staircase, during which Mayor Melissa Johnson lit the lights on the front lawn of city hall.
Two of the images on the lawn were especially symbolic this year: a gold star and a blue star.
“These are to honor and commemorate our soldiers--the gold star for those who have died defending our country, and the blue star to honor those who are currently serving our country,” Johnson said. “So as you look at our Christmas lights, please remember in your hearts and in your prayers those soldiers we have serving abroad. And remember to thank their families if you see them, for the wonderful service they do for our country.”
Guests filed back into the community room to listen to the West Jordan City Band, which has now been playing for 20 years.
“There’s one original band member here playing timpani,” band director Dellane Jessop said.
The band has members of all ages and abilities, from high school students to professional musicians, and even Santa Claus, who played the trombone.
“So there’s quite a range,” White said.
The mayor did a reading of “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” and the guests again joined the Mountain West Chorale in a sing along of some holiday favorites.
Following the concert, Santa stepped out into the foyer to hear the Christmas wishes of the children and hand out candy canes.
