This weekend, more than 100 young voices will share the sound of Christmas Memories at the Young Singers of West Georgia’s annual holiday concert in the LaGrange High School Fine Arts Auditorium.

During concerts on Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 3 p.m., singers ages 8 to 18 will perform holiday favorites like “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” and “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers.” Those songs will of course be accompanied by dance numbers by the Young Singers.

“I really love the kids and their energy and how exciting they make the show,” said Lexi Lewis, a senior who has performed with Young Singers for nine years.

The program is filled with Christmas songs that everyone is sure to recognize, and the audience will likely hear a few of their own seasonal favorites. 

“One of my favorites that we added just recently — and they love it so much and have worked so hard to get it ready — is ‘Last Christmas,’” Hardigree said. “It is a driving acapella piece, and so even the younger ones are getting to be a part of that acapella number, which usually my more advanced students do those kinds of pieces. It has been really fun to put that one together.”

Hardigree said that many of the students know the Wham! classic from Taylor Swift’s cover of the song, which only increases their excitement for the performance. Amelia Comerfort, a fifth-grade student in her third year with Young Singers, said that the song is her favorite part of the performance as well. Meanwhile, Lewis said her favorite song is “Holiday Rose” because of the dance that goes with it.

“I love ‘Holiday Rose,’” Lewis said. “That one’s probably my favorite. We get to do partner dances, which is cute.

Comerfort also said that she has learned a lot since her first year.

“Young Singers is a great opportunity to meet people, and you get to have a lot of opportunities,” Comerfort said. “We are going to New York in the spring.”

The Young Singers have performed at several major venues and events including the Rockweave Music and Arts Festival, at a Habitat for Humanity event attended by former President Jimmy Carter and at professional sporting events. Lewis said that her experience with Young Singers has made her a stronger person.

“It is made me a much more outgoing person and comfortable on stage, and I really don’t know where I’d be without music in my life,” Lewis said. “It’s become one of my main passions, and it’s really shaped me to be a better overall person.”

Lewis said she plans to study vocal performance in college.

Hardigree said she hopes to see people from throughout the community at the Christmas concert. 

“It’s just a very uplifting experience,” Hardigree said. “It is a professionally presented program with top notch musicians who we hire to accompany us, and it is a truly entertaining experience.”

Christmas Memories has been the theme of the holiday concert for 12 of its 24 years, and Hardigree said the concert style has proven to be very successful.

“The children love it,” Hardigree said. 

“Our audience always seems delighted by it, and it just gives them a wider experience of performance.”

Hardigree thanked the Troup County School System for allowing Young Singers to use space at LHS for the performance.

Tickets for the Young Singers of West Georgia’s Christmas Memories concert cost $12 for adults and $8 for students 18 and under. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit Lsparts.org or call (706) 882-9909.