Madrigals to perform on December 10
By Brett McMahon
The 40th Annual Mahomet-Seymour High School Madrigal performances are set for December 9-11 and promise to incorporate the magic of the Christmas season. When the Madrigal dinner and performance was started back in 1977, no one would have predicted how long the tradition would run. The first handful of performances simply laid the groundwork for the school obtaining its charter in 1983 and since that time, the December dinner has been a highlight of the Christmas season.
The ensemble was first initiated by former director, Janet Watkins in 1983, the year the charter was obtained. A few years later, Jill Rinkel took over as choral director and led the Madrigals for 37 years until retirement in 2018 when one of her colleagues, Nicole Kuglich was promoted. Kuglich has led the performances since then. She is particularly excited this year because the dinner and performances will return to pre-Covid levels for the first time since 2019.
Kuglich is proud of how the program has maintained a level of consistency despite the limitations the pandemic forced them to adapt to. The lineup for the 2022-2023 cast includes 17 singers. Each of the students practices at least two days a week in preparation for the dinner performances and that regiment stands throughout the entire school year and summer months.
For those who don’t know, the term “madrigal” refers to a particular type of song that is sung without accompaniment and is written for 4-8 voices. The texts of madrigals sometimes deal with the subjects of animals or food, many madrigals talk about “love”– love from afar, unrequited love, or mourning the loss of love. Madrigal songs can also tell stories. A fa-la- la refrain often accompanies true madrigals; you will hear some of these during the dinner.
So, what can those in attendance expect for this year’s event? The show features a Christmas-themed performance in a castle setting during the Renaissance period. Elaborate decorations, ornate costumes from the period, humor, and music will combine for an unforgettable experience.
Taking place at the Mahomet Seymour High School Commons, food for the event will be catered by Yoder’s Kitchen in Arthur. Seating will be assigned upon entry for each performance. The group will sing to each other and the audience during the show, an idea that comes from the Renaissance period, when it was customary at a banquet-type dinner for those in attendance to do just at that rather than watching someone else entertain. There will also be a short play with the singers showcasing their acting skills. In addition, they will sing Christmas songs in Madrigal style during the event.
Three shows are planned with the first being a dessert show December 10 at 2pm, a dinner show is on tap for December 10 at 6pm and the final show takes place December 11 at 2pm. Tickets are available through December 2 online at www.msmusicboosters.org.
Please give Janet Watkins the credit she well deserves. She was choral director for many years and led the madrigals well into the 2000s.
Kathy is correct. If you do the math using the “facts”” reported in this article, in order for Jill Rinkel to have led the madrigals for 37 years until her retirement in 2018, she would have begun to lead in 1981. Also, see Fred Kroner’s article of December 8, 2018, where he says, “Watkins, the former M-S choir director, organized and orchestrated the 1983 Madrigals dinner and performance as well as the next 20.”