Flash mob sings for Oklahoma shoppers

OKLAHOMA CITY, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- Shoppers at an Oklahoma mall enjoyed a holiday treat as a flash-mob of singers performed Handel's Hallelujah Chorus in the food court, observers said.

Inspired by similar performances making the Internet rounds on YouTube, more than 1,000 people participated in the spontaneous rendition at the Quail Springs Mall in Oklahoma City Saturday, The Oklahoman reported.

Carol Sander, a member of the Westminster Presbyterian Choir, helped spark the Oklahoma City event by sending an e-mail to some friends, and the idea quickly went viral on social media Web sites.

Sander she was surprised by the number of people who showed up.

"We wanted to do it as a gift to the shoppers," Sander said. "I could see they were really loving it."

Like many participants, Jay Albrink of Oklahoma City had no idea who started the event, saying he just got an e-mail from a woman at his church and decided to join in.

"I hope it was an uplifting experience," Albrink said.

Will Moore of Oklahoma City brought his daughters to the mall.

"(I came) just to be a part of the live version of what's going around on the Internet right now," Moore said. "The common denominator of the song and the words and music is just a refreshing and uplifting thing to see and be a part of this year with everything else going on."