The holiday season is a very busy time for many, including the Madison Madrigals. The Madison Madrigals are an auditioned choral group made up of both male and female voices. Throughout the holiday season, Madrigals perform various times both in and out of school. Madrigals member Fortune Picker (‘24) and choir director Claire Rowan shared their thoughts and experiences relating to Madrigals.

The Madrigals group means, “A word that originally meant a song that was performed by multiple voices singing multiple parts without instruments in the 14th century. The term now often refers to a smaller a cappella group that sings music with multiple parts all at the same time. Our Madison Madrigals Choir is a group of 31 singers who perform entirely a cappella music and sing in 4, 8 or 12 parts. This group sings throughout the community as ambassadors for the choral program,” said Rowan.

By singing throughout the community, the music made by Madrigals is heard throughout the Vienna area, including those not in high school. Picker, having heard Madrigals perform prior to being a student at Madison, made it a personal goal to join the group.

“I chose to audition for the Madrigals because I knew they worked with difficult music and I knew it would be a good opportunity for me to learn how to blend,” said Picker. “I also remember seeing the Madrigals perform when I was in middle school and making a pact with myself that I would be in the Madrigals when I got to high school.”.

Out of all the times in the year, the Madrigals perform to the community most during the holiday season. As this year’s holiday season approaches, Madrigals has 14 performances scheduled for the month of December. They will perform for various Vienna community events such as singing at the Vienna Presbyterian Holiday Lunch, The Snowman Show, and The Mayor’s Holiday Reception at Town Hall  .

Many of these holiday performances have become Madrigal annual traditions and over the years Rowan has grown an immense fondness for them.

“I always really enjoy the last song of the caroling season after we sing through the hallways on the final day before Winter Break,” Rowan said. “We carol throughout the building and then choose one final song to sing in a stairwell to close out the season. It is a special moment for the whole group — especially the seniors.”