Christine Mulligan, the Arts Department Chair at Wakefield School, recently sang at a celebration of the European Union winning the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize. The event, hosted at Ambassador of Belgium Jan Matthysen's residence in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 10, was held on the same day the prize was presented to the Presidents of the European Council, the European Commission and the European Parliament during an official ceremony in Oslo, Norway.

Mulligan, a chorister with the Washington Cathedral Choral Society, sang with the chorus a composition based on the final movement of Beethoven's 9th Symphony, Ode to Joy. The piece is recognized as the anthem of the European Union and the Council of Europe.

The group was asked to sing by the cathedral's music director, who was contacted by the embassy. "It's not unusual for us to do things around the city, especially at this time of year," Mulligan said. "It was an honor."

Mulligan said the event was very joyful and celebratory, with toasts, speeches, merriment — and a bouche de noel cake with a section honoring each of the EU members.

"It was amazing to watch the guests faces as we sang. They were standing tall as it was sung," she said. "It's something that just unites them. I was just honored to be able to be there, and hear the diplomacy and solidarity of that evening."