December 10, 2020
Vocalists Share Their Talents & Joy in ‘Mary Did You Know?’ Video
One warm afternoon in October, several members of the Academy of the Holy Angels Vocal Ensemble seized the opportunity to make a video of themselves singing “Mary Did You Know?” The vocalists wore protective masks and practiced social distancing as they harmonized outdoors. Choir Managers Nora Jacobi and Julia Fernandez edited the piece and released the video this month as a tribute.
“It was just one of those genuinely nice things that these girls think of to do,” AHA Choral Director Lisa Marciano said after receiving the video from her students. “It might not make headlines, but it’s these acts of kindness that change the world.”
“It was my idea to make the video,” Jacobi acknowledged. “As one of the two choir managers, I was trying to think of something fun the vocal ensemble could do because we haven’t all been able to bond as much as usual this year due to the pandemic. I also wanted to do a surprise video for Mrs. Marciano because of how difficult this year has been and how she still makes choir a priority so that we could all still sing together, even if most of us were virtual, and step away from the sadness going on throughout the world for a bit each week. We know she loves when we all work together to make music, so I knew she would be very touched by this project.
“We chose ‘Mary Did You Know?’ because we sang this song as a whole choir two years ago and, amongst all the craziness and uncertainty, we all wanted to get together to do something fun! It was one of my favorite songs that we ever did in choir and it touched many of us while we performed it. I know I am definitely speaking for many of the seniors and juniors who participated! We hoped to spread some Christmas joy this season, safely with social distancing and masks.”
Vocalists who appeared in the video include Nora Jacobi, Deanna Frassa, Caitlin Neville, Catherine Henry, Judianne Meredith, Cara Chang, Zaharah Fiorentinos, Julia Fernandez, Carol Laux, Myra Bocage, and Grace Sawyer. Soloists included Henry, Fernandez, Meredith, and Jacobi.
At this writing, AHA is planning an Epiphany Concert that will be fully virtual. Students are filming their parts at home with guidance from their music teachers. A professional engineer will produce the concert, which is slated for release in early January.
Founded by the School Sisters of Notre Dame in 1879, the Academy of the Holy Angels is the oldest private girls’ school in Bergen County. While AHA is steeped in Catholic tradition, this prestigious high school serves young women from a broad spectrum of cultural and religious backgrounds. Over time, thousands of women have passed through AHA’s portals. Many go on to study at some of the nation’s best universities, earning high-ranking positions in medicine, government, law, education, public service, business, arts, and athletics. The Academy’s current leaders continue to further the SSND mission to provide each student with the tools she needs to reach the fullness of her potential—spiritually, intellectually, socially, and physically, by offering a first-rate education in a nurturing environment where equal importance is placed on academic excellence, character development, moral integrity, and service to others.