Winter Concert Celebrates World's Holiday Traditions

This year's Winter Concert, titled "A Celebration of Holiday Traditions Around the World," presented works ranging from traditional Christmas carols to Swedish, Israeli, and Spanish seasonal songs and dances.

[See the complete concert video on Shore's YouTube channel.]



The traditional December concert featured students from every grade, often performing together. "It was our hope to build on the sense of community that we are trying to instill this year through the House system," said Upper School Music Director Jennifer Boyum.  "Watching the younger children rehearse and perform with the older students was truly special. The adults at Shore played a role, too! Performing on stage with the ensembles, cutting, sewing, and constructing props, and assisting with back stage and front-of-house details, the entire Shore community came together in a remarkable way."

The musical event in Shore's Theatre, one of the most popular school assemblies year after year, began with first graders performing Tchaikovsky's famous "March of the Toy Soliders," from the composer's ballet The Nutcracker, a holiday tradition for families around the world.

"The opening number was a highlight," said Lower School Music Teacher Jenny Lienhard. "I think everyone loved seeing the students marching with the candy canes on stage, accompanied by the wonderful Shore Chamber Ensemble."

Pre-K, Kindergarten, and Grade 5 and 6 girls then entered with candles to sing the tender Swedish winter song "Sankta Lucia," which celebrates that country's Saint Lucy and the Winter Solstice.

Next it was the boys' turn, as Pre-K, Kindergarten, and Grades 5 and 6 donned sunglasses to perform "Little Saint Nick" as arranged by the Beach Boys. "The curtain opening to the boys decked out in leis and sunglasses, singing with the Shore Jazz Band, was as funny and cute as we hoped it would be," said Lienhard.

Boyum added, "Personally, I was really thrilled with the Jazz Band. As far as I know, this is the first time in recent years Shore has had Jazz Band, and I think their inaugural performance was a remarkable success!"

Members of the Jazz Band had the spotlight to themselves for "Silver Bells" as recorded by Bing Crosby and Carol Richards in 1950. A number of the musicians took solos during this number.

Grade 4 and 5 boys and girls next performed "La Fiesta de la Posada," a traditional Spanish celebration that re-enacts through song and dance Mary and Joseph's search for a room at an inn, or posada. Star-themed artworks by the students accompanied the performance onscreen.

A talented trio of Upper School students followed with Tartini's Sonata in G Major, I, and then Grade 2 and 3 students sang "Do Di Li," which celebrates Jewish traditions of Hannukah. A small group accompanied the song with traditional Israeli dancing.

Later, soloists performed stunning renditions of "Cantique de Noel" and "Winter Wonderland," and the Shore Chamber Ensemble offered "Rhythmic Snapshots of Christmas." 

Grade 6 presented "Si'Vivon," an iconic song celebrating the traditional Jewish dreidel, the four-sided top frequently associated with Hannukah. And the Concert Choir performed another Hebrew song, "Bashana Haba'ah," which refers to new year celebrations from around the world. 

The Acafellas and Puellae Cantantes sang an energetic, contemporary a cappella version of Tchaikovsky's "The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies," and the concert concluded with a crowd-pleasing performance of "Home for the Holidays" by the Concert Choir, the faculty and staff of the Shore Singers, and first graders.

Said Lienhard, "The collaboration across grades and ensembles throughout this show, combined with the Shore Jazz Band's premier, brought a special spark to the Theatre."