In late December 2025, two Indiana choirs took part in one of Walt Disney World’s most meaningful holiday traditions: EPCOT’s Candlelight Processional. Carmel High School Choir, directed by Katie Kouns, performed on Sunday, Dec. 21, followed by Terre Haute North Vigo High School Choir, directed by Michelle Azar, on Monday, Dec. 22.
Each choir performed once, but the significance of the experience extended far beyond a single performance. Candlelight is not a typical theme park appearance. It is a full concert presentation of the Christmas story, blending music, narration and tradition in a setting that feels both historic and ceremonial.
For student musicians, participation represents recognition at a national level and the opportunity to contribute to a production that has been cherished for generations.
What makes the Candlelight Processional unique?
EPCOT’s Candlelight Processional is presented at the America Gardens Theatre as part of EPCOT’s International Festival of the Holidays. The program features a celebrity narrator reading the story of Christmas, accompanied by a live orchestra and a massed choir made up of Voices of Liberty vocalists and visiting student ensembles from across the country.
The narrator changes throughout the season, with past participants including Neil Patrick Harris, Whoopi Goldberg, Gary Sinise, Marlee Matlin and Edward James Olmos. In 2025, Carmel High School and Terre Haute North Vigo High School performed during the narrator window featuring Brendan Fraser.
The tradition dates back to the late 1950s at Disneyland, later expanding to Walt Disney World and eventually settling at EPCOT in 1994 as the event grew in scale and popularity. Today, Candlelight remains one of Disney’s most respected holiday offerings and a performance opportunity that carries both prestige and history.
Carmel High School Choir: Becoming part of something larger
Carmel High School Choir traveled to Orlando on Thursday, Dec. 18, beginning their experience with time at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney Springs ahead of their performance day.
On Sunday, Dec. 21, students headed to EPCOT for Candlelight. While rehearsals and warmups are intentionally closed to maintain the integrity of the production, the impact is evident once the performance begins. Students step onto a nationally recognized stage and become part of a unified ensemble that extends far beyond their home choir.
Rather than performing together as a single group, students are placed by voice part within the full choir, standing alongside peers from programs across the country. The result is both musically powerful and personally meaningful, emphasizing collaboration, adaptability and professionalism.
The following day brought a visit to Magic Kingdom, offering students time to reflect on the experience and enjoy one of Disney’s most iconic parks before concluding their trip and returning home early the next morning.
Terre Haute North Vigo High School: Rising to the moment
Terre Haute North Vigo High School Choir arrived by motorcoach and spent the first part of their trip creating memories across major parks, including Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom and Universal Orlando.
On Monday, Dec. 22, the group headed to EPCOT for Candlelight. The scale and precision of the production require students to rise quickly to professional expectations, a challenge that is central to what makes the experience so impactful. Students are trusted with an essential role in a long-standing holiday tradition and are expected to deliver with focus and confidence.
Following the performance, the group remained in EPCOT to experience “Luminous: The Symphony of Us”, bringing their time at Walt Disney World to a celebratory close. The evening served as a natural moment of reflection, allowing students to take pride in the performance that anchored their entire trip before beginning the journey home the next day.
Why directors value Candlelight opportunities
For music educators, the Candlelight Processional offers a rare combination of elements that are difficult to replicate elsewhere.
Prestige and tradition: A long-running holiday program with national recognition and a deeply loyal audience.
Professional production: Celebrity narration, orchestra and a massed choir create a performance environment few students experience during their high school careers.
Meaningful student growth: Students learn how to perform at a high level within a demanding, high-profile setting while contributing to something larger than themselves.
Just as importantly, Candlelight is about more than the time spent on the risers. Shared experiences throughout the trip, from park days to evening spectaculars, help turn a performance honor into a lasting memory.
Celebrating student achievement through performance
Experiences like the Candlelight Processional reflect the kind of opportunities Heart of America values: moments that recognize student excellence, foster musical growth and leave a lasting impression on performers and audiences alike.
For students, stepping onto this stage is a reminder that their dedication, preparation and passion for music can carry them far beyond their home communities and into nationally celebrated traditions.
