In 1987, when singer and model Rosanne McDowell returned to Columbia after 11 years in New York, she knew she would have to work hard to re-establish herself as a performer in her home town. As she pondered the question of just how to do that, she recalled watching a Victorian a cappella quartet singing traditional Christmas carols at Macy’s in Manhattan one year. “It made the shoppers smile,” she says. “It occurred to me that I could bring that same old-fashioned cheer to Columbia.”
Armed with her idea and a crystalline voice, Rosanne spent the next year creating her own ensemble. “I was familiar with the talent here, so I was able to hand-pick that first group,” she explains. Once the singers — all classically trained professionals — had been chosen, Rosanne was tasked with finding a repertoire of carols broken into four-part harmony for soprano, alto, tenor and bass; scheduling rehearsals; finding period costumes and selling performances. The group also needed a name. Borrowing from Columbia’s Carolina Carillon Holiday Parade, she decided to call her singers the Carillon Carolers. “A carillon is a tower of bells,” says Rosanne. “We wanted our voices to be as beautiful as bells.”
It was Richland Mall that gave the Carillon Carolers their first break, hiring the group to stroll from store to store in their costumes singing carols. They were so popular that, for the following season, Rosanne had to pull together a second quartet to meet the mall’s request for more performances.
That was 25 years ago. Today, the Carillon Carolers are a beloved Christmas tradition, performing not just at local malls, but also at private functions, weddings, the Carolina Carillon Holiday Parade, tree lightings and, as a gift to the people of South Carolina, at the Governor’s Mansion Christmas Open House.
That gift is the culmination of nearly year-round behind-the-scenes work. Aside from Rosanne’s administrative duties, each of the 13 total members — who range in age from about 30 to 80 — must be able to sight-read accurately his or her specific part of a repertoire of about 55 songs, which include classic Christmas hymns and lighter favorites, as well as carols that are a little less well known. Many of the carolers have their music memorized. No matter how familiar a singer is with a particular song, since he or she will only be singing part of the whole, learning each carol goes well beyond being able to carry the melody. “While the four parts make sense together, individually they may not sound like the song you know,” explains bass Hal McIntosh. “You learn your part and know that it will come together in the end.”
Before they can begin to learn those parts, though, potential quartet members, unless already known as proven performers to Rosanne, go through a rigorous audition process. Not only must they possess lovely tonal quality and excellent sight-reading skills, potential carolers also need to be able to strike a balance between being strong enough to carry a part individually — the group sings a cappella, or without instrumental accompaniment — and harmonious enough to blend with the other voices. “I look for a voice that has solo quality but won’t stick out,” says Rosanne. “Not every voice is right.” Quartet members also need to be able to project without pushing themselves into the voice-straining, almost shouting mode that can significantly shorten a singing career.
But being a member of the Carillon Carolers is more than just singing. Rosanne also looks for singers with the confidence to sell each song to the audience. “Performances are like theater, and singers need to be able to smile and add some personality to each song,” she notes. “But it isn’t hard. When you see a child clapping or singing along, you can’t help but grin.”
Members are also responsible for securing their own Victorian-era costumes, which include long plaid skirts, satin capes, holly-trimmed bonnets and lace blouses for the women and tuxedos with dashes of Christmas color and top hats for the men. “It’s like a Charles Dickens novel come to life,” says Hal.
Although the group doesn’t rehearse much — new members learn songs on their own and long-timers find that the songs pop right back at the beginning of each season — the holiday performance schedule is grueling. Between July and Christmas, the group books a multiplicity of gigs that range from one to three hours in length. They’ll sing from balconies, doorways, staircases and throughout the halls of busy shopping areas as strolling carolers. “Knowing the music by heart gives us the freedom to interact with each other and the audience,” says Rosanne. “That interaction is a huge part of our performances and is part of what makes our group so special.”
But above most other performing considerations, these talented singers have fun. Given the right venue and energy level, the foursome will break away from their practiced harmonies and launch into vocal jam sessions where voices play off each other, sometimes to unexpected, glorious heights. Dancing a jig or two isn’t unknown either. Carolers also love it when audiences sing along, and they happily take requests.
“I had no idea there were so many Christmas carols,” laughs tenor Chan Shealy, who joined the group about nine years ago and cites “Here We Come A-Caroling” as his favorite. “There’s no doubt it’s a huge commitment, but it’s incredibly joyous and the highlight of my Christmas season.” Chan particularly enjoys performing at nursing homes, where he can watch as the audience is transported to happy memories of Christmases past.
For the past dozen years or so, the Carillon Carolers have performed at Columbiana Centre. General Manager Tom Dornfeld wouldn’t have it any other way. “They’re a wonderful, soothing, uplifting part of our Christmas celebration at the mall,” he says. “They’re very good at what they do, and our shoppers really seem to enjoy the performances.”
Hal McIntosh agrees. “There’s nothing like watching a harried shopper come flying around the corner, hear us and come to a dead stop. You can see the wheels slow down, and just like that, they seem to forget about the stress of Christmas and remember the joy.”
Carillon Carolers 2012 Holiday Performances
Fri., Nov. 30, 4 to 7 p.m.
Strolling At Columbiana Centre
Sat., Dec. 1, 9 to 11:30 a.m.
Carolina Carillon Holiday Parade
Sat., Dec. 1, 1 to 4 p.m.
Strolling At Columbiana Centre
Thurs, Dec. 6, 7 p.m.
Forest Acres Sweet Seasons Tree Lighting
Fri., Dec. 7, 4 to 7 p.m.
Strolling At Columbiana Centre
Sat., Dec. 8, 1 to 4 p.m.
Strolling At Columbiana Centre
Mon., Dec. 10, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Governor’s Mansion Christmas Open House
Fri., Dec. 14, 3 to 6 p.m.
Strolling At Columbiana Centre
Sat., Dec. 15, 1 to 4 p.m.
Strolling At Columbiana Centre
Fri., Dec. 21, 1 to 4 p.m.
Strolling At Columbiana Centre
Sat., Dec. 22, 2 to 5 p.m.
Strolling At Columbiana Centre
Sun., Dec. 23, 2 to 5 p.m.
Strolling At Columbiana Centre