Music department delivers trio of holiday concerts

Monica Clark/Staff Writer
As the holiday season approaches, the music department is working hard on perfecting and performing their music for the upcoming December concerts.
The symphonic band conducted by Kyle Engelhardt performed “For the New Day Arisen” by Barton, “A Christmas Festival” by Reed, “Of Dark Lords and Ancient Kings” by Barrett and “Heartbeat Five” by Gilroy at a concert on Tuesday.

“[Our student teacher] Mr. Lins is making his conducting debut. He’ll be doing ‘Heartbeat Five,’” Engelhardt said prior to the concert.

“Heartbeat Five” is ridden with percussion sections: 28 percussion instruments are used in the composition.

“I think the audience will really enjoy “A Christmas Festival”. It’s a medley of holiday favorites,” Englehardt said before Tuesday’s concert.

The wind symphony directed by Gerald Ramsey also performed “Symphonic Prelude” by Camphouse and “Tarentella” by Smith among other songs on Tuesday.

The orchestra will perform its winter concert on Thursday, Dec. 11 at 7:30.
The orchestra will be performing “Christmas Memories” by Chase, “Sleigh Ride” by Anderson, “Farandole” by Bizet and “Brandenburgisches Konzert Number 3” by Bach. The chamber orchestra will also be performing “Concerto Grosso Opus 6 Number VIII” at the concert.

The choir will perform its concert on Monday, Dec. 15 with the treble clef choir performing “Carol of the Dance” by Goemanne, “Terly Terlow” by Morrissey as well as other songs.
The bass clef choir and the concert choir will also be performing at the concert.

The title of concert will be Midwinter’s Eve. The theme is about winter as a season, not as much a holiday. A flutist, Rene Veenstra from the Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra, will be playing with the choir as they sing “Calm on a Listening Ear of Night” by David Dickau.

“It’s going to be one of best that we’ve ever done,” Wohlert said. “I think they’re singing so musically and more in tune. We worked really hard on tuning.”

Choir alumni will also be singing on the last song “Still, Still, Still.”
“That’s just kind of a neat thing we do each year,” Wohlert said.

Tickets for the orchestra and choir concerts are $3 for children and $4 for adults and activity passes are accepted. The concerts will be held in the CFHS auditorium.