Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell ROCK

On Wednesday, Dec. 10, the choir and concert band came together to hold their annual winter concert.

Yet despite the cool temperatures during this time of year, choir teachers Phyllis Sneyers and Carl Helder started preparing for this concert in August by researching different pieces of music.

Pieces that were performed by the choir include Babethandanza, Erev Shel Shoshman, Gloria in Excelis, Let Everything That Hath Breath, and Jingle Bell Rock.

Pieces the concert band performed included Let it Snow, Winter Wonderland, and Frosty the Snowman.

Phyllis Sneyers, the choir director and teacher conducted her students as they performed five different compositions.

Sneyers has been the choir teacher for 25 years and has been participating in the concert for 21 years.

When teaching the songs, Babethandanza, a South African piece, Eriev Shel Shoshman, a Hebrew piece, and Gloria in Excelis, a Latin piece, Sneyers wanted students to sing them in the original language they were composed in.

“I wanted them to be exposed to different styles of music, “Sneyers said.

She was especially proud of her student’s ability to stay focused when learning these pieces and also admired their enthusiasm during the performance while singing.

Jeff Kurland, the band conductor and teacher, has been teaching band for the last 23 years and has been participating in the concert for the last 21 years.

According to Kurland, the band has been preparing for the concert since the late October for six weeks.

“I really liked how the band sounded balanced and enthusiastic,” Kurland said.

He really enjoys participating in the concert and hopes that the band is either as good or even better next year.

Louis Cahn, a freshman, enjoyed his first experience performing with the rest of the choir. Previously, Cahn had watched his two older siblings perform in the choir.

“I can’t wait for next year,” Cahn said