For years, Festival of Carols was a highlight of the Christmas season for the Atkins family.
Shallen Atkins sang in the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir when her children were young. After each performance, she would meet her family in the lobby, still glowing from the stage. Meanwhile, Savannah and her brothers watched the concert from their favorite seats overlooking the orchestra—close enough to see instruments, lights, and movement, far enough to take it all in with wonder.
“I loved those concerts,” Savannah shared. “We always sat where we could look into the orchestra. Seeing everything from up there made it magical. Those were some of my favorite Christmas memories.”
Now, for the first time, mother and daughter will stand together on stage as members of the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir: this is their first Festival of Carols performing side by side.
A Tradition Built on Music and Family
Music has always been part of their family identity. Shallen raised her children in a lively, musical home replete with rhythm and melody.
“I taught them count-singing from birth,” she laughed. “Music wasn’t something we did on the side—it was our language. We sang while I cooked, while they played, at bedtime, at church. It filled the house. It filled our hearts.”
Savannah never had to be convinced to love music—she absorbed it. She watched rehearsals from the piano bench, attended Festival of Carols from her favorite balcony seats, and later earned her degree in voice and cello. This year, as she stepped into choir rehearsals, it felt like the natural continuation of a story that began in childhood.
“I was looking for something that would stretch me,” she said. “Something high-level, where everyone cares. The choir is exactly that. And the fact that my mom is right beside me makes it even better.”
Community, Connection, and Love
Shallen also returned to the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir this season after several years away to support her children’s busy schedules. A professional singer with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Vocal Performance, she built her early career in opera and as a soloist with orchestras before pressing pause to raise her family. That decision is part of why music remains so central to who she is and why sharing it with her children feels so meaningful. Stepping back into rehearsal felt like coming home.
“I missed everyone,” she said. “The second you walk through the door, people are smiling and giving hugs. And then rehearsal starts, and the tone shifts—it’s crisp, focused, all business in the best way. It’s welcoming, but the standard is still very high.”
Savannah, as a first-year member, was surprised by how familiar everyone seemed.
“People recognized me because they knew my mom from her seasons before,” she said. “Others had no idea. Once they made the connection, they were like, ‘Wait, you’re her daughter?’ Now they just smile when they see us together.”
A First-Time Performance
Even though music has always been part of their relationship, this moment feels different.
“We’ve sung together at weddings, at church, we’ve practiced at home,” Shallen said. “But we’ve never stood on a stage like this, as part of a large ensemble, doing something at such a high level. I don’t think I’ll ever forget it.”
Savannah agrees.
“Every Christmas, I watched her perform,” she said. “I remember the songs. I remember the soloists. The opportunity to step on that stage this season, during that same performance, is something I never imagined; and it’s incredibly meaningful.”
Together, they are experiencing a season marked by shared joy, pride, and accomplishment.
“You want your kids to be better than you,” Shallen said. “Seeing Savannah stand in front of me, hearing her voice, watching her grow as a musician and as a person is just the best feeling.”
“When those lights go down,” Savannah said, “I’ll remember sitting up there watching her. And now, we’ll be standing here together. I can’t wait.”
Festival of Carols has been an Indianapolis holiday tradition for 89 years, bringing audiences of all ages together. This season, Shallen and Savannah will experience it singing in harmony and sharing a joy that began years ago in the balcony seats. They are proud to be part of the music and even more excited to share this cherished tradition with the Indianapolis community.
Festival of Carols takes place at the Palladium on Friday, December 19, at 8 p.m., Saturday, December 20, at 3 p.m., and Sunday, December 21, at 3 p.m., as well as at the Schrott Center for the Arts on Monday, December 22, at 8 p.m. Tickets are on sale now.
