"Hallelujah" Flash Mob at Mall

BY CATHY JETT

Even amid the bustle of the holidays, Spotsylvania Towne Centre's food court seemed unusually crowded last night.

Many there were eagerly waiting for the opening notes of a 200-year-old Christmas classic to begin issuing softly from a speaker system.

As the sound grew louder, Elena Flores, a Colonial Forge High School senior who is applying to Juilliard, stood on a chair and began to sing in her clear, lovely soprano:

Haaaah-leh-lu-yuh, Haaaah-leh-lu-yuh

Then Kevin Perry, a tenor who has sung in the Fredericksburg Community Chorus' annual production of "Messiah" for years, joined in with:

Haaaah-leh-lu-yuh, Haaaah-leh-lu-yuh

Suddenly several hundred members of at least nine area choirs stood to sing the familiar chorus to George Frideric Handel's masterpiece. And concert violinists Robyn Bauer and Megan Bevill held their bows at the ready.

The Rev. Michael Patch of Fredericksburg Baptist Church climbed onto a small stage in front of Famous Teriyaki Sushi to conduct, and the music swelled as the next words soared throughout the food court:

Cameras and videocams, including those of The Free Lance-Star and Two Guys Productions of Fredericksburg, began recording the excitement. The few unsuspecting shoppers there stopped eating their nachos and nuggets to watch in surprise and awe.

"We had heard rumors," David Mersiovsky, who was there with his parents and girlfriend, said afterward. "We were told something 'cultural' would be at the mall at 7:15 and we needed to be there. The food court isn't the choice of places I'd expect to hear the 'Messiah,' but it sounded good."

What was designed to appear as a spontaneous, quick hit of holiday cheer was actually a carefully coordinated flash mob sparked by similar productions that have gone viral on YouTube.

"The one that inspired me took place Nov. 13 in a food court in New York," said Maria Janney, president of the Fredericksburg Community Chorus.

continued

The first time she saw it and watched people's responses, she said she was so moved that she cried--and thought how delightful it would be to have a similar event here. It wasn't too long afterward that Gloria Whitley called to say that other people had been discussing the same thing, and Janney's name had come up as the person who could make it happen.

"Would you try?" she asked Janney.

Janney talked to Barbara Perry, who teaches choir at Colonial Forge and directs the Stafford Regional Choral Society, and plans were put in motion.

Casey Clark, a teacher who sings with the Fredericksburg Community Chorus, called mall management for approval, and discovered that Mark Gentry, the Towne Centre's manager, had seen some of the flash mob videos too, and was eager to have a flash mob at the mall.

"For me, it's been amazing," Janney said. "It's one of those things that feels like there's been divine intervention to make it happen."

She and Perry began sending e-mails to members of both their groups and directors of other choral groups including the Fredericksburg Baptist Sanctuary Choir, Stafford Regional Choral Society and the Spotsylvanians.

They were told to pass the word on to others who might be interested, but to keep the event secret from their families. They also received an attachment with the music so they could rehearse at home.

Cathy Herndon and Denise Luck, who are members of the local Voices of Pops group, found out about it before performing "Messiah" last weekend, and came to sing and "get in the Christmas spirit," Herndon said.

"It was fun," Luck added. "I want to do it again!"

Janney said beforehand that she wasn't sure how many people would actually show up for the event. But she was surrounded by people congratulating her once it was over.

"I think it was great," enthused Greg Cebula, who participated with members of The Spotsylvanians. "The Spotsylvanians chorus is all about community, and this kind of thing brings community together. It puts Christ in Christmas."

Cathy Jett: 540/374-5407
Email: cjett@freelancestar.com

Among the choirs participating in the flash mob at Spotsylvania Towne Centre's food court were: Colonial Forge High School Choir Fredericksburg Baptist Church Sanctuary Choir Fredericksburg Chamber Chorale Fredericksburg Community Chorus Rappahannock Choral Society River Bend Singers St. Peter's Lutheran Church Stafford Regional Choral Society The Spotsylvanians