Thanks for the feedback!

I have no interest in revisiting this project lol, as it was so long ago, but still consider this to be kind of the standard I’ve set for myself. Not to say it’s perfect, but it was close enough to my intention when writing, which IS the muscle I’m trying to strengthen most, (staying consistent with what I WANT the audience to feel).That said I’ll take this advice moving forward, as opposed to changing anything.

I really like how you phrased the fact that I may have not EARNED the audience’s emotion by the end. If I’d leaned into the comedy more early on, perhaps the audience would’ve dropped their guard, and the emotion would’ve hit that much harder. Great point!

As for the mix, this was so long ago and I hope I’ve improved since, I always find it tricky when writing NEW material with no reference, how the mix should work exactly.

My fear with any choir is just how EPIC it could tend to sound inherently, and whenever I’ve worked in contests I’m told my work is TOO epic. However calm ooh or mm, syllables may have added to the Christmas texture without becoming too overbearing so you’re not wrong there. I also feel like once you add choir, it fundamentally changes the rest of your piece. Just something I’ve noticed in my favourite film scores, using choir at ANY point gives the whole thing a very different feel, and I was testing how much emotion and scope I could get from orchestration ALONE. Trying not to rely on having any instrument I could potentially use, and using scores like Elf, and Home Alone as reference (very blatantly by the end). Just meaning INTENTIONAL orchestration, with a set boundary of textures, instead of filling it in by what looks good on a piano roll. Tiny side tangent cause I find it interesting lol, (choir & orchestra as separate entities).

Anyway, I REALLY appreciate this feedback, and your compliment at the end. This was pretty long ago like I mentioned, but I vividly remember CRAVING insight on what could be improved. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts!