The Music Department kicked off Winter Break with its annual Winter Concert on Dec. 19 at Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center, featuring students in the school’s bands, choirs and orchestras. Winter poems and short stories were read by community members and parents during the concert’s transitions.

Jazz Band opened with “Blame It On the Blues” by Doug Beach and “Jazzin’ Merry Gentlemen” arranged by Larry Neeck.
Soloists included sophomores Carson Brooksher and Tayden Shuck on alto saxophone and junior Alisara Arial on tenor saxophone.

Chorale performed “Masters in This Hall,” a French carol arranged by Brown. The group also presented a choir and piano arrangement of “That’s Christmas to Me” by Pentatonix, which featured freshman soloists Kiara Gonzales and Quinton McGuire.

Concert Choir brought back traditional carols with a twist. The ensemble performed vocal jazz arrangements of “Let It Snow!” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” by Michele Weir, closing their set with “White Horses” by Gweneth Walker.

The Chamber Singers performed “Ave Regina Caelorum” by Isabella Leonarda, an a Capella arrangement of Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson’s “Winter Song” and “Still I Rise” by Rosephanye Powell, which featured sophomore soloist Samantha Vesper.

After the intermission, Concert Band performed “Chasing Sunlight” by Cait Nishimura, an arrangement of “All Through the Night” by Julie Giroux and “Pieces of Glass” by Leslie Gilreath.

Concert Orchestra played “Veni, Veni Emmanuel” arranged by Trotta, “Noel Nouvelet,” a French carol arranged by Hellem, a mashup of “Happy Holidays/White Christmas” by Berlin and arranged by Ricketts and “A Visit from St. Nicholas” by Clement Clark Moore.

The Chamber Orchestra later took the stage with “Concerto in C Major” by Telemann and arranged by Cashin, “I Wonder As I Wander” by Niles and arranged by Krogstad and “Highland Holiday” by Giardiniere, featuring senior Paige Beamer on piccolo.

To conclude the concert, the Chamber Singers and Chamber Orchestra joined together for “Hallelujah” from Handel’s “Messiah.” Alumni were welcomed back to perform the traditional “Peace, Peace” with the school’s choirs and orchestras.
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