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Band and chorus concerts spread Christmas spirit

Lauren Tucker

The high school band Christmas concert was on Wednesday, Dec. 7, in Powell Theater, and the high school chorus Christmas concert was on Monday, Dec. 5 in Powell Theater. The high school band performance lasted for an hour and fifteen minutes and included the middle school band. The chorus concert also featured the fifth grade chorus and the seventh and eighth grade chorus. Both concerts helped spread Christmas cheer throughout the Wesleyan community.

Sophomore Gavin Burns and senior Phillip Burns practice on the marimba and the piano for the concert.

Burns

j Twenty-five high school band members performed five pieces at the concert. The performance included three Christmas songs, “Low, How A Rose E’er Blooming,” “Sleigh Ride,” and “Comfort and Joy,” and two non-Christmas songs, “Second Suite in F” and “Cold Light.” “Cold Light” highlighted the percussion section. Sophomore Gavin Burns said, “My favorite song this year is “Cold Light” because it has a lot of interesting rhythms, and it is probably the hardest song I’ve ever played.” Burns played the marimba and the vibraphone during the songs. Each of the pieces highlighted a different section of the band’s strengths while challenging the players to do their best. Band Director Jeff Foster said, “I try to choose a variety of different styles of music. I choose music based on the strengths and weaknesses of the group I have. Each piece is customized to the group’s ability.” In the piece, “Comfort and Joy,” there were three soloists: freshman Larry Men on the tenor saxophone, senior Brendan O’Shields on the alto saxophone, and senior Phillip Burns on the piano. Junior Brady O’Shields played a huge euphonium solo in “Second Suite F,” and “Cold Light” featured a solo from senior Steven Guyer on the marimba. The band began preparing for the Christmas concert at the beginning of the school year. Foster said, “From day one, we start working on music fundamentals while we learn the Veteran’s Day and Christmas concert programs at the same time.” The band consists of 11 different woodwind and brass instruments and 3 different percussion instruments. Foster works with each instrument individually on the pieces. Then, he works with the ensemble as a whole to make sure the pieces flow and sound good. The band members also work outside of class to perfect their skills before the concert. G. Burns said, “I practice with the percussion section and ensemble during class. Then, I work outside of class to not only learn my part, but other people’s parts so I can blend better with the ensemble.” The band concert is different from any other concerts during the year because of the band’s special Christmas attire tradition. Foster said, “My favorite part of the concert is that we let the high school band dress in tacky Christmas outfits, which helps people to get in the Christmas spirit. Also, it makes a formal concert more relaxed and enjoyable for the players and audience.” The band members also agree that they love wearing the Christmas outfits. G. Burns said, “I look forward to wearing Christmas outfits to the concert each year.” This year’s Christmas concert marked a special occasion for Foster because it was his twenty-fifth Christmas concert at Wesleyan. Foster said, “I pride myself on thinking outside of the box, and this year we played three traditional concert pieces along with one jazz piece and one percussion piece.” The concert this year displayed new music and was very enjoyable and entertaining for the audience. The high school chorus, the Chamber Singers, began practicing and preparing for their Christmas concert in October after their fall concert. The nine Chamber Singers worked hard to learn a wide variety of Christmas carols and songs in different languages. Sophomore Allison Reding said, “Everyday in class we go over the songs multiple times, and Mr. Meyer gives us tracks to practice at home.” The students broke into different sections to learn the notes and work on their enunciation and vowels. Then, the choir studied dynamics of the pieces, which is how balance is achieved amongst the different vocal ranges within the choir. The chorus and piano teacher Brad Meyer challenged each student to sing a different section in each song to improve their vocal ranges. The Christmas concert built upon the choir’s performance at their fall concert in October. Meyer said, “My favorite part about the concert is seeing everything come together as a whole and seeing the choir’s overall growth from October to December.” The choir used the October concert as a way to learn how they sounded with each other. The Christmas concert allowed them to showcase their new skills and harmony as a group. Reding said, “My favorite part of the Christmas concert was being able to see all of our improvement, and everyone working together.” The chorus concert was centered around the Christmas and the birth of Christ, so Meyer chose songs that would represent this theme. The chorus performed 5 songs, “Personent Hodie,” “Il Est Né, Le Divin Enfant,” “In the Bleak Midwinter,” “White Winter Hymnal,” and “Carol

(l to r) Sophomore Ellie Simmons, sophomore Norah Mukana, and freshman Izabelle-Antoinnette Mensah break into a group to practice for the concert. Reding

of the Bells.” The song “Personent Hodie” is in Latin, and “Il Est Né, Le Divin Enfant” is a popular French folk Christmas song. The choir’s rendition of “Carol of the Bells” is a beloved Christmas concert tradition. But each song held a special meaning for the singers. Reding said, “My favorite song that we are singing this year is “White Winter Hymnal” because it is acapella, so we get to make our own chords and make really cool beats.” Each one of Meyer’s song choices celebrates Christmas in a different way. Meyer said, “I try to mix in songs that are more traditional, and then one or two songs that might be unfamiliar to the audience. The Christmas concert is a great time to expose the choir to learning different languages and cultures, and how the Christmas theme progresses through each of those songs.” The band and chorus Christmas concerts highlighted the high school students’ talent that has grown over the course of the semester while celebrating the birth of Christ. The songs performed at the concerts helped spread Christmas cheer to the members of the audience and Wesleyan community.