If you missed Tessanne Chin’s Voice Box Christmas concert on Sunday you’re the worse for it.

Not only did the event deliver on its promise of an unforgettable evening of music, but it also served up a sweet Christmas story highlighting the true meaning of the season.

Held at Karl Hendrickson Auditorium on the grounds of Jamaica College, the musical showcase was staged under the theme ‘Our Christmas Wish’, which, according to Chin, is for Jamaicans to remember to spread love and cheer this season.

Donning angelic all-white ensembles, the performers opened the show with a vibrant spin on a classic Christmas carol, O Come All Ye Faithful, which raised the curtains on a show that kept the festive vibes flowing all night long.

They went on to deliver Christmas favourites such as the Little Drummer Boy and Deck The Halls. But while many expected to hear just the typical carols, in true Voice Box fashion, the children showed up and showed out with something extra. The group served up folk favourites Day-O, made popular by the late Harry Belafonte, as well as O Happy Day.

Proving that they are more than just vocal powerhouses, the children paired each performance with some solid dance moves, wooing the audience with their effortless co-ordination.

But while patrons may have anticipated singing and dancing, they were pleasantly surprised by the incorporation of a drama piece that beautifully tied the entire production together. Following a story-line that captured the journey of a disgruntled elf from the North Pole, the skits throughout the night provided the perfect dose of comedic relief. The elf, frustrated with his job and the lack of functional equipment needed to carry out his duties, encounters the Voice Box children, who then take him on a journey to help him rediscover the meaning of Christmas.

Sending heartfelt thanks to her supporting team, Tessanne Chin beamed with pride as she recalled the countless hours put into making the show a reality.

She credited Michael Holgate as the brain behind the production’s elf storyline.

“Michael [Holgate] elevates anything he’s a part of and it’s always quite the pleasure working with him. This year, his creativity really took the show and our children to a different level, because it required some of them to step fully into an acting position. [O]ur lead Jason Rowe, who played Spriggy, the elf… He is an incredible singer but I didn’t know he was such a fantastic actor and, of course, the others as well, and so I am very proud of how the children were able to grow this year,” she said. “They really put in a lot of work; they worked so hard and I just pray that we can continue to be better, so we can offer them more.”

While the night belonged to the Voice Box Performing Arts Ensemble, they were supported by a number of other talents, who put an equal amount of energy and vibe into their pieces. Ardenne Preparatory Lightning Drummers had the audience in a frenzy as they elevated the atmosphere with their sound. The Sugar Plum Fairies from Lullabys Jamaica, Voice Box scholarship recipient Sasha Gay Sutherland, Gramps Morgan, Kevin Downswell, and Sevana were also among the night’s other special guest performers.

The Ardenne Prep Lightning Drummers has the audience thrilled. Garfield Robinson

The crowd inside Karl Hendrickson Auditorium was treated to song, dance and drama at the Voice Box Christmas showcase on Sunday. (Garfield Robinson)

Gramps Morgan was among the night’s guest performers. (Garfield Robinson)

Sevana (left) and the Voice Box 2024 scholarship recipient Sasha Gay Sutherland perform a duet on Sunday. (Garfield Robinson)

Gospel singer Kevin Downswell is joined by members of Voice Box as he performs his hit song Stronger. (Garfield Robinson)