Sounds of the Season: Holiday Concert 2021

By Corey Ostensen

Once every two years, the Wheaton North Music Department puts on the winter concert, featuring all levels of band, orchestra, and chorus students. This year, the concert took place on December 16 at Edman Memorial Chapel on the Wheaton College campus.

The concert was put on by Mrs. Krause (chorus director), Mr. Krause (band director), and Mrs. Mayell (orchestra director).

The performance was divided into two acts with a ten-minute intermission in between. Act I began with a collaborative piece of “O Come All Ye Faithful” by John Francis Wade, performed by the chamber and concert orchestras, the concert and symphonic bands, and the JV, concert, varsity, and chamber choirs. Next, the symphonic band performed “A Vaughan Williams Christmas” by Ralph Vaughan Williams. The concert, chamber 1, and chamber 2 orchestras then played “Christmas Day” by Gustav Holst, followed by the concert band’s performance of “Festive Holiday Overture” by Joe Snyder. The concert and JV choirs performed “Peace, Peace” by Fred Bock, followed by the concert band’s performance of “Canon for Christmas” and Chris Cockarell’s “Rockin’ Angels” played by the percussion ensemble. Subsequently, the symphonic band performed “Polar Express” by Alan Sylvestri. For the final performance in Act I, Flight performed “Noel” by Brad Holmes.

Following the intermission, the Sinfonia 2 orchestra, wind ensembles, chamber singers, varsity chorale, and Flight performed “Joy to the World'' by Isaac Watts. The wind ensemble played “Farandole” by Georges Bizet, followed by Sinfonia 1 & 2’s performance of “Fantasia on Greensleeves” by Ralph Vaughan Williams. The wind ensemble and the orchestras together performed “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson. Then, the chamber singers and varsity chorale sang “Hodie Christus Natus Est” by Kevin Siegfried. After that, the wind ensemble percussion played the traditional song, “Skating.” Next, members of Sinfonia 1 & 2 along with members of the wind ensemble performed “Christmas Overture” by Samuel Coleridge Taylor. The wind ensemble continued to perform with “Christmas Festival” by Leroy Anderson.

For the final piece of the night, as is tradition, the Sinfonia 1 & 2 orchestras, wind ensemble, chamber singers, varsity chorale, concert choir, and JV choir performed “Hallelujah Chorus,” and all Wheaton North Alumni in attendance were invited to come on stage and sing along.

Overall, I really enjoyed performing in and watching the holiday concert. If you would like to view the program, you can find it here. Happy holidays!