Fa-la-la-la-la! At 7:30 on Tuesday, December 20th, HMHS hosted its much anticipated Winter Music Concert. This was the time for our music department to share all we had been working on since school started, and it was a blast! All of HMHS’ vocal and instrumental ensembles had the chance to perform, including Concert Band, Orchestra, Choir, Chamber Choir, and Madrigals (we recently finished up our beloved Dessert Theater on December 16th and 17th. Thank you to everyone who came out to support us!). 

The concert was free of charge and followed Winterfest, at which many of the HMHS clubs braved the cold to sell baked goods or merchandise. Because so many people were already at the school when the concert started, they could easily file into the warm auditorium to enjoy the musical show. 

I am not a part of the Concert Band or Orchestra, so it was quite a treat to be a part of the audience for their portion of the show and hear many of the wonderful songs they had been working on this fall and winter. Concert Band started off the show with a bang, performing four outstanding pieces under the direction of the wonderful Mr. Janney: “Chanson for Christmas,” “Chanukkah Collage,” “Fum Fum Fum,” and “Into the Storm.” Orchestra followed behind the band. Directed by new orchestra teacher Mr. Rodriguez, these students blessed the audience with their wonderful sound as they performed “A Chanukkah Festival,” “It’s Holiday Time,” and “Santa Plays the Viola” (which featured the orchestra’s violists!). 

Under the direction of Tyler Mills and his theme of “Holidays Around the World,” three of HMHS’ vocal ensembles had the chance to perform what we had been working on over the past few months (in multiple languages!). While the Chamber Choir got into place behind the curtain, the Madrigal singers kept the audience entertained by sharing one of our pieces, “We Three Kings.” This song featured Griffin Adams, Joseph Keegan, and Harry George as the “three kings.” Chamber Choir followed Madrigals, dazzling the crowd with two songs: “Ding-a-Ding-a-Ding” and “Salmo 150” (a Latin song composed by renowned Brazilian composer Ernani Aguiar). Finally, it was time for the Concert Choir to perform. As our largest vocal ensemble, Concert Choir presented four pieces: “Betelehemu” (a Nigerian Christmas carol), “Vuelie” (from Frozen), “Hanukkah!” and “A Festive-Pat-a-Pan” (a traditional French carol).

What a night! It was definitely one to remember, especially considering it was the department’s first real winter concert since COVID-19 hit. As a senior, it is bittersweet that this was my last winter concert with HMHS, but I had such an amazing time and feel so lucky to have been a part of these groups over the past few years. Congratulations to all of the ensembles, vocal and instrumental, who had the chance to showcase their hard work at our winter concert, and thank you to all of the audience members who came to support us and the arts at Haddonfield. We’ll see you in the spring!