The Palmer House Hilton Hotel in Chicago is a place where history walks on every floor. Everything about this magnificent facility speaks to quality. Immaculately kept and historically preserved, The Palmer House Hilton gives truth to the saying "Our past is our future."

In December, during the Christmas season, the hotel is just magical. A huge Christmas tree, beautifully and carefully decorated reaches up to the magnificent ceiling in the great room of the lobby. Every afternoon a choral group takes center stage in front of the tree to entertain guests and visitors with the sounds of Christmas.

It was our good fortune to be walking through the lobby when the Morgan Park High School Concert Chorale was mesmerizing guests with the majesty of their voices.

It took but an instant to make the decision to race to our room eighteen floors above the lobby to get our cameras so that we could record these young people. Yes, they were backlit. Yes, the lighting was dark. Yes, the scenes would not be perfect for internet streaming, but who cared about such matters. The music was too compelling to miss this special moment. Our visitors to the Windsor Park Theater will get caught up in the music, and they will give us a pass on the images or at least that is what we hoped.

Under the direction of Richard Nunley, the students from Morgan Park not only sang the music, they were the music. Our eyes locked onto them. They looked elegant in their long, blue gowns and tuxedoes. Every move they made was in perfect harmony with the music including the poetic moves of the brilliant young woman who was signing the words to the most energized song.

Watching them, even through a darkened viewfinder, was a spellbinding experience.

Yet the essence of the moment was not lost. They were performing beautiful music...music that spoke to the essence of Christmas. It was music of peace, hope and joy. It was music of love and kindness. It was music we needed to hear. Music we wanted to hear...music that inspired us...music that made us feel community with the students who performed it in such creative ways.

The music of the Morgan Park High School Concert Chorale filled Kitch and me with a sense of beauty and civility. We were not alone. As the music continued, the crowd swelled, and everyone was swept up by the excellence and the enthusiasm of the youthful performers.

They were having a great time and so were we.

Then, as quickly as it began, it was over. Reality set in.

The students made their way quietly and orderly to the buses that were waiting for them on Wabash Avenue. As they passed in front of us, we could see the smiles of accomplishment and satisfaction on their faces. They did what they came to The Palmer House to do, and they did it flawlessly. Their music made people happy, and in so doing the members of the Morgan Park High School Concert Chorale were walking tall and straight with the dignity and class that result from a superior performance.

Their director, Richard Nunley, agreed. It was a good day for his students.

Please send feedback to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it