[PARK SLOPE] Frosty the showmen: Park Slope carolers brave sub-zero temperatures

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By Colin Mixson

Brooklyn Paper

Caroling has never been so cool!

Seasonal song singers braved sub-zero temperatures brought on by Thursday’s brutal polar vortex to spread holiday cheer throughout Park Slope, singing classic Christmas and Hanukkah tunes as part of an event organized by the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music.

The nasty weather left passersby loath to join the well-bundled groups of Yuletide singers — or even to stand and listen too long for fear freezing solid — but around 60 stalwart carolers nevertheless stuck it out well into the frigid night, according to a spokeswoman for the music academy.

“In our dreams we had tons of people canceling their plans and joining in on the singing — that didn’t happen,” said Melody Aberg. “But we were really happy with the reaction we got from passersby.”

The carolers split up into two merry bands after meeting at the conservatory’s Seventh Avenue digs, with one group heading Prospect Heights-bound on Seventh Avenue and another traveling Gowanus-bound along Union Street.

The holiday singers hit notable local hot spots such as PS 21, Haagen Dazs, the Union Street Market, and, of course, the Park Slope Food Co-op, along with numerous Christmas tree vendors, while belting out classic caroling staples including “Joy to the World” and “Jingle Bells,” along with some Jewish numbers including “The Dreidel Song” and “Hanukkah, O Hanukkah.”

Amateur carolers were backed up by the more practiced singers of the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music’s community choral, who jazzed up the tunes with four-part harmonies that added some spice to otherwise freezing air, Aberg said.

“They a really wonderful sound — beautiful singing,” she said. “It was a mix of all levels.”

The Brooklyn Conservatory of Music put together a caroling group for the Atlantic Avenue tree lighting ceremony last year, but this year’s event was the first time the conservatory solicited interest among Park Slopers to take part in their crooning crusade, which they hope to make a holiday tradition, Aberg said.

“We’re going to do it every year!” she said.

Reach reporter Colin Mixson at cmixson@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-4505.

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[PARK SLOPE] Frosty the showmen: Park Slope carolers brave sub-zero temperatures : Brooklyn Paper