Stanley-Boyd residents were treated to a holiday concert from the middle and high school on Monday, Dec. 15 at Stanley-Boyd, followed by an elementary concert for kindergarten to fifth grade on Tuesday, Dec. 16. Kindergarten to Second grade started their concert performance at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, followed by a concert performance from the third to fifth graders at 7:30 p.m.
The elementary concert was directed by Elementary Music Teacher Hannah DeYoung and Band Director Devon Wenndt. The concert Tuesday featured songs including “Jingle Bell Rock” by Joe Beal and Jim Boothe, “Wassail March” by Mark Williams, “Joyful Carol” and Carol of the Bells by John Riggio, as well as Here Comes Santa Claus” by Gene Autry and “When Santa Plays His Ukulele” by Karl Hitzemann. The elementary school students also performed several songs written or arranged by Teresa Jennings, including “We Wish you a Merry Christmas.”
As for the middle and high school Monday at 7:00 p.m., it was directed by Choir Director Louella Derrico and Band Director Devon Wenndt, with Tara Kodl as accompanist.
The Middle School performance started with a band concert featuring three numbers, including “Pirate Kings from the East” as arranged by Scott Watson, “All through the Silent Night” as arranged by Mark Williams, and “Island Drummer Boy” by Mark Lortz.
This was followed with the Middle School Choir singing “Cold Snap” by Mark Hayes, “Winter’s Stillness” by Andrew Parr quoting Still, Still, Still, and “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson as arranged by Kirby Shaw.
The High School started out with a band performance including “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24” as arranged by Bob Phillips and George Megaw, “The Hanging on the Greens” by Matthew R. Putnam, and “Farandole From L’Arlesienne Suite No. 2” by Goerges Bizet as arranged by Larry Deahn.
The High School Concert Choir started their performance with “Riu, Riu, Chiu,” a Spanish Villancico arranged by Mark Burrows, with featured ensemble of Cassidy Kodl, Ally Sayles, Eli Lilla, Emily Kletsch, Koraline Pennala and Maya Milliren.
The High School Choir followed this up with The Chipmunk Song” by Ross Bagdasarian as arranged by Audrey Snyder, with featured soloists Chloe Isenberger, Kylee Solie, Ady Charles, and Kira Lato. The High School Choir then followed this up with Once Upon a December by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty as arranged by Audrey Snyder and “No Room, No Room” by Ruth Morris Gay.
The Concert then finished with a combined number by the Middle and High School Choir together, “Peace, Peace” by Rick and Sylvia Powell as arranged by Fred Bock, with Kira Lato on flute.
Special thanks was also extended to several individuals who make it possible for the students to participate in music, including Tara Kodl, Hannah and Tish DeYoung, Ryan Sturm and Peter Place, Stanley-Boyd Custodians, Stanley-Boyd Administration and Staff, Parents and Guardians of Performers, Stanley-Boyd Music Boosters, Greg Myers, Schmitt Music, and Eckroth Music.
Upcoming music program events for the middle and high school music program include the following:
Middle School Honors Choir on Jan. 8 at UWEC
Dorian Vocal Festival on Jan. 11 and 12 at Luther College
All-Conference Band and Choir on Jan. 17 at Regis High School
High School and Middle School Solo and Ensemble on Feb. 21 at Fall Creek
Middle School and High School Concert Festival on March 19 at Stanley-Boyd
Grade 5 to 12 Spring Concert on March 23 at 6:00 p.m.