The Holiday Festival of Music, a favorite Christmas tradition received a fresh twist this year from some new performers and staff members on Dec. 7.

The concert opened with the Concert Choir singing the song “A Boy Was Born” by Britten and was followed by the traditional candlelight procession by all choirs to two variations on “Silent Night,” “Peace, Peace” by Powell and “Once Upon a Silent Night” by Ray. This year’s procession ended with all of the choir members on the stage with all of their candles glowing and extinguished in unison.

Choral Director Frank Gallo said, “Our motto…has been ‘respect tradition, embrace tomorrow.’”

The festival also featured several small instrumental ensembles. James Ambrecht, a member of a trumpet ensemble also including Devon Mensching, Emily Mensching, and Scott Poder, arranged the song “A Very Merry Medley.”  Other ensembles included a low brass quartet performing “Carols for a Merry TubaChristmas” and a Clarinet Trio performing Tchaikovsky’s “Dance of the Mirlitons.”

The growing extracurricular choir, Colours performed the Nigerian Christmas Carol “Betelehemu” arranged by Brooks. The simple choreography that accompanied the song was inspired by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s performance. It was the first time this choir has performed at this festival. 

Choir member Mark Figley, senior, said, “I like how… [Mr. Gallo] changed it up, but still kept it similar.”

The Jazz Choir and the West Women’s Choir performed the songs “Let it Snow” and “Santa Baby” respectively.  Seniors Maria Catalano and Kelcie Mortell created the choreography for “Let it Snow” and juniors Kailin Haugh and Carissa Panoutsos choreographed “Santa Baby.”

All of the choirs also collectively performed the spiritual “I’m Goin’ Up A Yonder,” accompanied for part of the song on piano and partly a capella.

Peggy Ognacevic, another new addition to this year’s festival, accompanied the choirs on both cello and piano.

The Holiday Festival of Music is also one of the few times that the Wind Ensemble and choirs perform together.

“It was nice to come together as choir and band for once,” said junior Margaret Ladis.

All of the choirs and the Wind Ensemble initially rehearsed the songs that they would perform together separately and then came together with great success at the dress rehearsal two days before the final performance.  Band Director Mike Chiodo attributes the success of this arrangement to how well-rehearsed both groups were.

“There was a lot of communication between the band and the choir,” said Figley.

The first song the Wind Ensemble and choirs performed together was “Sleigh Ride.”  Wind Ensemble has performed this song before, but without any vocal accompaniment.  For this song, all o f the choir members donned festive winter apparel and stood in small groups scattered throughout the audience like traditional carolers.

They then followed with a longstanding tradition of recognizing all choir alumni.  This year, instead of coming on the stage, they remained in their seats.  This allowed full audience participation in Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus from “Messiah.”  All audience members stood up for the song; this tradition comes from one of the first times “Messiah” was ever performed with Handel present.  

“I think it went really well this year.  The auditorium was packed,” said Chiodo.