Carol of the Bells is a song that has been a favorite of mine for many years. I’ve sort of been known for performing it around Christmas time as well, and so when I was writing music for my “Winter Symphony” album, I knew I wanted to include this song.

I wanted it to be a very cinematic version of the music, and so it’s with great pride that this music video turned out as beautiful as it did – because I feel that it fits the music so well. This music video features the beautiful and talented 16 year old Carolynne May Guinup as the ballerina. She endured some very cold weather dancing through the forest of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington in the month of November. Give her a thumbs up for that!

And YES, we did haul a real antique grand piano into the forest as well! Someone asked if it was “photoshopped”. No, indeed not.

MUSIC CREDITS

“Carol of the Bells”

Music by Mykola Leontovych

Arranged by Jennifer Thomas

Orchestrated by Glen Gabriel

Piano performed by Jennifer Thomas

Orchestra performed by players from the Utah Symphony and the Salt Lake Pops Orchestra

Mixed by Brian Vibberts

Mastered by Christofer Stannow

FILM PRODUCTION CREDITS

Jennifer Thomas – Pianist

Carolynne May Guinup – Ballerina

Ryan K. McNeal – Director

Tel Stewart – Cinematographer

Alex “Splice” Jones – Editor

Will Thomas – Drone Pilot

Kimberly Starkey – Production Assistant

Noelle McBride – Hair/Makeup (The Moore Theater scenes)

Thank you to:

Urban Grace Church (Ballet studio scenes), Tacoma, WA

The Moore Theater, Seattle, WA and the stage crew

Ballet costumes – Erin Ceragioli and Tacoma City Ballet

Jennifer’s tulle skirt – by IBCBoutique on Etsy

Debra Heesch (The Paramount Theater) for helping us get the Moore Theater

Ron Southworth (my dad) for helping us haul a 1,000 pound antique grand piano through the forest.

Carolyn Southworth (my mom) for watching our cute kiddos while we filmed.