One of the many joys of the Christmas season is the carols. Music and songs have a way of touching you deep in your soul, stirring emotions and even memories. Sometimes, the sheer beauty of the singer’s voice is what hits you the most. Such was the case with a young girl’s tear-inducing performance at a Christmas concert in December 2015.
Amira Willighagen, then a tender 11 years old, was invited as a special guest star by the Nijmegen Men’s Choir to perform at the Petrus Canisius Church in her hometown of Nijmegen in the Dutch province of Gelderland. She looked ever the picture of grace and poise as she took to the microphone to belt out her rendition of “O Holy Night.”
As her angelic voice soared through the church, the audience was pin-drop silent. Despite her petite frame, Amira’s voice filled the room with its polished and smooth timber, proving big voices can come in small packages. And it wasn’t just those in the audience that night who were lucky enough to witness such an awe-inspiring performance. A video of her singing took the internet by storm as well, racking up more than 2.7 million views. And it’s not hard to see why. Her performance captured the serenity and sense of bliss and joy of the original carol, infused with clarity of pitch and resonance. It called to mind the rapture of the heavens and angels, perfect for the occasion. By the end of the song and as Amira reached its crescendo, audience members were left stunned yet delighted with the young girl’s talent.