Teens bring old-fashioned Christmas spirit to Santa Ana neighborhood
Thirty-three members of the Godinez Fundamental High School Chamber Singers sing Christmas carols at home on the 1400-block of Lowell Street in Washington Square neighborhood in Santa Ana on Dec. 15, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Members of the Godinez Fundamental High School Chamber Singers wave to residents after the group sang Christmas carols in front of their home in the Washington Square neighborhood in Santa Ana on Dec. 15, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Freeman Street resident, Samantha Middleton, left, along with her sister April Salinas, center, and mother Vickie Cisneros, cheer from the doorway as members of the Godinez Fundamental High School Chamber Singers finish singing carols at the home in Washington Square neighborhood in Santa Ana on Dec. 15, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Members of the Godinez Fundamental High School Chamber Singers sing Christmas carols at home in the Washington Square neighborhood in Santa Ana on Dec. 15, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Residents and neighbors, left, on the 1400-block of Lowell Street gather in the front yard to listen to the Godinez Fundamental High Schoolxe2x80x99s Chamber Singers as they sing Christmas carols in the Washington Square neighborhood in Santa Ana on Dec. 15, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Godinez Fundamental High School choir director Jeanette McMahon, right, leads the Chamber Singers as they sing Christmas carols at home on the 1100-block of Freeman Street in the Washington Square neighborhood in Santa Ana on Dec. 15, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Kayleen Lay with the Godinez Fundamental High School Chamber Singers joins other classmates in sing Christmas carols at home in the Washington Square neighborhood in Santa Ana on Dec. 15, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Jennifer Rivera, left, is joined by her daughter Pilar, 15, and dog Ginger to listen to Christmas carols sung by the Godinez Fundamental High School Chamber Singers in the Washington Square neighborhood in Santa Ana on Dec. 15, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Godinez Fundamental High School choir director Jeanette McMahon, center, leads the Chamber Singers as they sing Christmas carols at home on the 1100-block of Freeman Street in the Washington Square neighborhood in Santa Ana on Dec. 15, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Thirty-three members of the Godinez Fundamental High Schoolxe2x80x99s Chamber Singers are lead choir director Jeanette McMahon, right, in singing Christmas carols at home on the 1000-block of Freeman Street in the Washington Square neighborhood in Santa Ana on Dec. 15, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Godinez Fundamental High School choir director Jeanette McMahon, center, leads the Chamber Singers as they sing Christmas carols at home on the 1100-block of Freeman Street in the Washington Square neighborhood in Santa Ana on Dec. 15, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Thirty-three members of the Godinez Fundamental High School Chamber Singers sing Christmas carols at home on the 1400-block of Lowell Street in Washington Square neighborhood in Santa Ana on Dec. 15, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
It was like a scene out of a Hallmark holiday movie set in a small town where carolers walk door-to-door singing.
Only, this was the Washington Square neighborhood in the heart of bustling Santa Ana.
Spreading holiday cheer with each song, the Chamber Singers from Godinez Fundamental High School moved through the neighborhood sharing classics such as “O Holy Night,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “Jolly Old Saint Nicolas.”
The carolers were led by Godinez High choir director and Washington Square resident Jeanette McMahon.
“This is the 20th year singing for the neighborhood,” she said. “I’m from a small town and singing for the neighborhood gives me a lot of pride. It’s my way of contributing to the magic that is Washington Square.”
Samantha Middleton, a Freeman Street resident who had family visiting for the holidays, said, “We heard the carolers coming down the street and everyone rushed to the front door! It truly made it feel like Christmas.”
The 33 students of the Chamber Singers had to memorize 20 four-part carols and this week are singing at other venues throughout the district, including for retirement communities.
“I’ve given kids the gift of music and they experience the feeling of giving that gift back to the community,” McMahon said. “It’s a priceless gift that can’t be bought.”
