The ConVal High School Music Department is set to put on a show with its annual holiday concert in the ConVal gymnasium on Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 6:30 p.m.
The concert marks the first for new choral director Brian Moore.
“I look forward to being a part of the tradition of all the ConVal choirs, and to collaborate with everybody to put on a really great show on a big-scale concert level. That’s really exciting to me,” he said.
Moore, who has spent the previous 16 years teaching music and chorus in the Merrimack School District, has put together a program of diverse music that he anticipates will excite the audience.
“The crowd should enjoy a little more diversity this year,” he said, citing the a capella groups – who look to branch off from their traditional pop-style sound.
“Glow”, by Eric Whitacre, is a song that he is eager to perform. The tune, which debuted at California’s Walt Disneyland Resort to open the World of Color exhibit in 2013, emulates the light of a candle.
On the instrumental side, Jim Wickham, who in his eighth year leading the ConVal band, will head three different groups.
“I’m always looking forward to what the music sounds like after all of the work that we do over a period of two months,” he said. “It’s definitely the most exciting part of having a concert.”
The band’s repertoire will feature multiple different genres from across the globe. “Greensleeves”, whose deep rooted Christmas origins were first heard in the 1360s, originates from Europe, while the more recent “Polar Express” concert suite is based off Alan Silvestri’s music from the 2005 movie. The jazz band will also play Latin and Cuban styled music that dates back to the late 18th century.
Similar to their directors, students have also been working tirelessly to prepare for the show. Senior band member Noah Krason will play several demanding piano parts throughout the evening, and aims to end his final holiday concert on a high note.
“Band has meant a lot to me throughout my four years at ConVal. I really want to go out in a way where I can be happy with my performance, and I want to feel like I accomplished something,” he said.
After months of preparation, Wickham, Moore, and all of the students are looking forward to an entertaining, diverse, and intriguing holiday concert performance.
Admission is free to the public, and seating will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis.