On December 10th, 2023, Darlington School held the annual Lessons and Carols. 

“The most significant holiday for us is the birth of Christ, which is why we celebrate Christmas. And so this service was started at King’s College chapel in England 1918 as a way to bring really at the time a more creative approach to worship,” Mrs. Inman said.

Mrs. Tunnel and Mrs. Johnson also selected a song to showcase musical proficiency and maintain a worshipful atmosphere during the religious service. 

“We know that we have to come up with a piece of music that matches the lesson and the story that each lesson tells,” Mrs. Tunnell said. 

“Considering the style of the music, I tried to pick some different styles for the singers to sing,” Mrs. Johnson said.

During the Lesson and Carols, Darlington’s orchestra also lets the audience feel more inclusive and engaging.

“The school orchestra plays the arrangement of We Three Kings at least, and then they kind of fluctuate between the other two,” Mrs. Tunnell said. 

Fortunately, Darlington School has both Christmas concerts and religious holidays.

“It can find balance in supporting some secular holiday music as well as some sacred holiday music,” Mrs. Tunnell said.