“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” And that is exactly what APU’s University Choir and Orchestra demonstrated for the travelers at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Friday, Dec. 9.
Over 90 students in the University Choir and Orchestra were asked by staff of the LAX Airport to participate in a Christmas flashmob from 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. The students performed their flashmob nine times throughout that period. The airport understands that airports can be stressful for passengers traveling and going on vacation throughout the year, but especially during the holidays. LAX management and staff hoped Christmas carols would help relax and take the stress off of the travelers’ minds.
For the past five years, the University Choir and Orchestra have performed in concerts the Tuesday before Thanksgiving in the Los Angeles area called Gateway to L.A. After one of their performances, the choir made a trip down to the airport baggage claim, and did a quick run-through of their performance.
“When I first heard University Choir and Orchestra was doing a flash mob at LAX, I was ecstatic, and not nervous in the least,” sophomore commercial music business major Krista Krause said. “I had never thought I would be able to see one in person, let alone be a part of one.”
John Sutton, director of choir activities, encouraged students to dress up and create their own storyline of why they were at the airport.
With creative stories, there were students dressed as a dance crew, elderly people in wheelchairs, a pregnant lady, a limo driver and a movie star. Two of the women in the choir went online and found the exact colors the actual flight attendants wore, bought outfits and then dressed as flight attendants.
“Some of the students by accident went into the security area, and security had to come tell them they could not be there [since they looked like regular passengers],” Sutton said. “Then [management] looked at the two ‘flight attendants’ and said, ‘Oh, you guys are fine.’”
Sutton did not want to be conducting this group, and with the help of technology, did not have to.
“I figured out we could all download an app where it gave us a pitch, so as were getting ready and in place it would look as if all the students were on the phone, but really they were getting their pitch.”
LAX alerted the media and the ABC film crew showed up. The video got streamed and other news stations such as CNN and Fox began airing it as it became nationwide.
The choir and orchestra sang “Carol of the Bells,” since they wanted their main piece to be a song that everyone associated with Christmas. Next, they sang “Merry Christmas To You All.” As well as singing, the students were also holding signs that read, “Happy Holidays from Azusa Pacific University.”
“The travelers reactions were incredible,” Krause said. “Some people were brought to tears, saying it made their holiday, and others just could not have looked more overjoyed at the sight of a group of college students that were actually saying the words, ‘Merry Christmas!’”
After this unique event took place, the management at LAX mentioned that they would love to have the University Choir and Orchestra back again. The students received tons of applause and cheers as well as letters, cards and donations sent to the school. The flashmob succeeded in easing the passing travelers. One particular letter made its way to Sutton and confirmed that UCO had shaken some travelers’ sense of sadness for the upcoming holidays.
The letter was from a woman, who also made a donation, and read: “You do not know what this meant to me. I was dreading coming to L.A. because it was for my mother’s memorial service, she had just passed away, and I was really down. Totally caught me off guard and reminded me of the life of my mother and that I’m not alone and it totally changed my day.”
These 90 students did not just sing Christmas carols, but reminded passengers the important meaning of the holidays.
“I do think God used us to connect people,” Sutton said.
UCO found a way to connect strangers from all over the world, no matter who they are or what their story may be by singing Christmas carols for all to hear.
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