-By, Katie Tsai

This year, the Lower School’s Chorus and Orchestra and the Upper School’s Orchestra, Chorale, Small Chorus, Senior Small, and Percussion Ensemble, as well as the Intergenerational Chorus and Orchestra, which is comprised of students, parents, faculty, staff, siblings, and retired teachers, performed in the Winsor Holiday Concert on Sunday, December 11. The concert featured Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Suite,” a Ladino song, a cappella, jazz, holiday carols, and winter songs, including a new one about solstice that Small Chorus sang. This year’s Holiday Concert was unique in that it was the first time that Lower School music groups performed, and that Head of School, Dr. Pelmas sang in the alto section of the Intergenerational Chorus. Also, the Upper School Orchestra played with 11 professional musicians.

The concert upheld many of its old traditions as well. This year, Small Chorus again sang Keith Christopher’s “O Holy Night” – years ago, Small Chorus chose to sing it annually at the winter concert because it uses the J. S. Bach setting of “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring,” one of the graduation procession songs. Teresa L. ‘19 was excited to sing it because “it’s such a pretty and meaningful song.” Other traditions included singing a few carols with the audience and asking alumnae and former parents, faculty, and staff to join the Intergenerational Chorus and Orchestra in singing Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” at the end of the concert. Lettie C.t ’19, a member of Chorale “[looked] forward to hearing everyone (parents and Small Chorus included) sing Winter Wonderland…it [was] amazing to hear all the parts.” Leslie M. ’19, also in Chorale, exclaimed, “I love the songs we sing; they get me into the holiday mood. I also love doing the concert with the orchestra…[It] always sounds so pretty.” This year’s concert was filled with merriment and was the perfect way to get both performers and audience members excited for winter festivities and the upcoming holidays.