St. Mary’s Catholic School continued celebrating the Advent season musically with an instrument Christmas concert and a choir Christmas concert Tuesday, Dec. 6.
The evening began in the school’s gym where the St. Mary’s advanced hand bell choir, under the direction of Glynda Vanecek performed “Christmas Carol Fest.”
The advanced hand bell choir consists of fifth through high school students Nicholaus Mokry, Paul Melcher, Gunner Streit, Blake Yezak, Lydia Melcher, Claire Altman, Julia Heyl, Xochitl Hopkinson, Georgia Rethlake, Joelette Paiz, Dulcie Krogmann, Olivia Mokry, JD Morgan, Alex Martinez, Malerie Mokry and St. Mary’s alumna Izzy Streit.
There were several individual performances by students who take instrument lessons during the schools Program for After School Enrichment (PASE).
Piano students played traditional Christmas selections during the concert.
Third grader, Danielle Nemec played “Jolly Old St. Nicholas” and Julianne Nguyen, fourth grader, played “Silent Night.” Other piano performances included sixth grader Ella Sheffy had playing “Carol of the Bells” and fifth grader, Isaac Nemec, playing “Ode to Joy.”
Abigail Colmark, St. Mary’s music teacher, played duets with fourth grader Bruno Salazar-Gladyn and second grader Abigail Mendoza-Duque.
Salazar-Gladyn was featured on “Deck the Halls” playing the flute, while Mendoza-Duque played “Up on the Housetop” on the piano.
The St. Mary’s beginner hand bell choir, under the direction of Glynda Vanecek played “We Three Kings” and “Jingle Bells.” Students in the beginner hand bell choir include Alyssa Carrasco, JoAnne Simmons, Olivia Martinez, Ellie Telles-Carrizales, Bruno Salazar Gladyn, Abriel Hopson Joel Paiz and Lilly Sheffy.
The St. Mary’s band had a few numbers as well. The sixth-grade girls in the band played “We Three Kings.” The sixth-grade boys in the band played “Jingle Bells.” The seventh and eighth graders from band played “We wish you a Merry Christmas.”
In conclusion of the program the entire band played “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” and “First Holiday Fanfare.”
In addition to the band concert, St. Mary’s also hosted their choir Christmas concert the same night.
The student’s voices filled the church. The choir consists of students in fifth through 12th grades. The fifth through eighth grade students sang at the front of the church while the high school students performed from the balcony. The choir was accompanied by Luciano Laurentiu on piano and organ. Laurentiu is the St. Mary of the Assumption director of music ministry. The students were also accompanied by Colmark and a trumpet player.
All spectators were invited to view an art exhibit displayed around the gym prepared by St. Mary’s art teacher, Adrian Arose. Art from students from all grades was available for viewing pleasure.
