Panthera Vox Musica, a group of five singers which were chosen by audition, closed the choir portion of the night with a song entitled “Grown Up Christmas List” by Teena Chinn. Members chosen to be part of this elite group of choir singers are Samantha Pettey, Alexis Wyatt, Kirsten Olsen, Brittany Reese and Gage Flatness.
The NRHEG Concert Band entered the gym as the choir was exiting and were introduced by director Tim Siewert. The band opened with “Celtic Carol” by Robert W. Smith, with soloists Hannah Light on the piccolo and Hans Frank on the saxophone. Siewert introduced the next selection as “Faeries” by Mannheim Steamroller’s Chip Davis, one of his favorite composers. The crowd was entranced as they listened as “visions of sugar plums danced in their heads.”
The third song, “The First Noel” by Jeff Simmons, was dedicated to Mr. Siewert’s grandmother who was in attendance along with 11 other members of the Siewert family. Kirsten Olsen played a beautiful flute solo during this rendition of the classic Christmas carol.
The band completed their portion of the evening with “Christmas at the Movies” by John Moss, an arrangement including songs from the popular holiday movies, “Home Alone”, “Nightmare Before Christmas” and “The Polar Express.”
The combined band and choir members provided the finale for the 2011 Christmas Concert. The audience was invited to join the choir on stage, and although there weren’t any takers, the entire crowd could be heard singing along with the traditional carol, “O Come All Ye Faithful,” setting by James Swearingen.
It was an inspirational evening that set the tone for the Christmas holidays providing a plethora of talent from the members of the choir, band and directors.
