Holiday Concert performed by Pine Bluffs Jr. High and High School Bands

Instruments were being tuned and voices were warming up. Festively dressed students and teachers were preparing to dazzle the audience filled with parents, grandparents and many other spectators at the Pine Bluffs Jr./Sr. High School Holiday concert on December 6th at 7:00 p.m. in the Pine Bluffs Historic High School

The Jr./ Sr. High School Jazz ensemble who have only been together for a month started the musical evening with Frosty the Snowman by Walter Rollins & Steve Nelson, arrangement by Logan Vanderlaan. This song debuted in 1950 showing their childhood. As we get older we might lose the memories of the happiness, joy as well as imagination which made up our childhood. It is how we have fun in the winter. Vanderlaan arranged this piece for each player to have a solo during the piece. Alexis Vallance sang throughout the music, Rebecca McCollum played flute, Gage Woolington played trombone, Colton Daugherty played euphonium, Jakob Taylor played guitar, and David Merryfield played the drums, Pa Rum Pum Pum Pum! It was a unique piece to enjoy for the first time.

The fifth grade band shook it up with some Jingle Bells by James Lord Pierpont and Gingerbread Men on Parade by Len Orcino. Jingle Bells came out in1857. It was originally titled "The One Horse open Sleigh" but was not a hit. Jingle Bells however is classic! The Gingerbread Men on Parade is great for a group to play for their first concert. The fifth grade band did great for their first concert for the season.

The sixth grade band played two songs. The first song was Jolly Old St. Nick a traditional Carol. This song was an original poem by Emily Huntington Miller that was published in 1833. But then became a song in 1865. The second song was Carol of the Bells by Mikola Leontovich arrangement by Larry Clark. The sixth graders are improving with each song.

There were two soloists for the evening. First was Rebecca McCollum who played the flute. Her piece was Winter by Antonio Vivaldi with Movements II: Largo and Movement III: Allegro. The high tone is associated with the icy cold wind and freezing weather. The snow is painfully hitting a person's face during a blizzard. The melody is fast movement. This piece is powerful that it cannot be controlled by human. McCollum's flute flowed through the piece with the right impact of winter in the air. The second soloist was Jessica Weller who sang and played the piano. The song was O Come, All Ye Faithful by Betty Colley. This song was composed in 1744 originally by English Catholic priest Frederick Oakley. But it has been associated with different groups throughout the world. Weller's singing and playing of this piece enhanced the song.

The Junior High School Band played one song. It was On a Cold Winter"s Night, arrangement by James Swearingen. This song has the chilling of darkness throughout the song. The players did great.

The Jr. and Senior high bands came together for A Christmas Trilogy, arrangement by Scott Stanton. Jamison Becerra and Rebecca McCollum sang solo's throughout the piece. It was a great performance of a great combination.

The High School Band took on a difficult arrangement in the piece Sleigh Ride by Leroy Anderson.

The High School Choir sang three songs. The first song was Last Christmas by George Michael arrangement by Greg Gilpin. There were five soloists throughout the song. They were Madelyn Brown, Alexis Vallance, Amanda Michaud, Rebecca McCollum, and Kelsie Bymer accompanied by David Merryfield on drums and Heather Lerwick on piano. The next song was Mary, Did You Know by Mark Lowry & Buddy Greene, arrangement by Jack Schrader. This song had the group leaving the audience awestruck. The grand finale came as Carol of the Bells by Mikala Leontovich & Peter J. Wilousky, arrangement by Riccardo Spina. The choir sang in three parts of the song which blended to be a whole one. Heather Lerwick played the piano for the choir songs.

The performance echoed throughout the halls of the Pine Bluffs Historic high School enlightening the families and friends. The students encouraged each performer on how great the entire performance was.