This Thursday evening, members of the music department collaborated to present Sacred Heart Greenwich’s annual Christmas Concert. The fifth and sixth-grade Madeleines, seventh and eighth-grade Nightingales, Middle School Bell Choir, A Ca-Bellas, freshman Chorus, Madrigals, Upper School Bell Choirs, and Orchestra all performed. For the first time, this year’s concert also featured a video performance from the new Sacred Heart dance club and a ballet segment from senior Claire Maher. The groups brought the Christmas spirit to life in their cheerful renditions. Over the course of the evening, the rhythm of holiday joy captivated the audience.
Miss Annette Etheridge, Middle School and Upper School Music Director, Mr. Sean Lowery, Upper and Middle School Orchestra and Upper School Chorus Director, and Miss Danielle Gennaro ’05, Bell Choir Director, worked with one another to bring together the feeling of the holidays. The 18 songs performed created a jolly atmosphere within the Lennie and John de Csepel Theater.
The Madeleines, Nightingales, Chorus, and Madrigals started the night off together by singing “Love’s Pure Light, Silent Night” by Mr. Michael John Trotta. Following this harmonic introduction, the Nightingales took the stage, singing “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” by Mr. Phil Spector, Mrs. Ellie Greenwich, and Mr. Jeff Barry, arranged by Mr. Kirby Shaw. Next up was the Middle School Bell Choir, which filled the air with ringing renditions of “Away in a Manger” by Mr. James R. Murray and “Wonderful Christmastime” by Mr. Paul McCartney, both arranged by Miss Gennaro. Miss Gennaro spoke about the importance of the Christmas concert for students.
“It is an opportunity for students to get in front of other people,” Miss Gennaro said. “Whether that is singing or being able to be in front of your peers and feel the joy of performing an instrument or dancing, that is just a fantastic skill to have and something to work on personally.”
Following the Middle School Bell Choir, Chorus took the stage and sang “The Hands of Winter” by Mr. Mark Hayes and Mr. John Parker and “Last Christmas” by Mr. George Michael, arranged by Mr. Greg Gilpin. The Upper School Stuart Bell Choir and the Upper School Duchesne Bell Choir performed two songs each. Madeleines then performed a cheerful version of Mr. Kirby Shaw’s “Beboppin’ Santa Claus.” Sophomore Arianna Chin is in the Madrigals group. She shed light on the importance of the concert to her and her fellow singers.
“The time that we spend practicing towards the Christmas concert is just a great time for us,” Arianna said. “We get to bond over singing and just enjoy having fun with each other.”
Starting the second half of the concert there was a video from the new Upper School dance club to the song “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” by Jessie J, written by Mr. J. Marks and arranged by Mr. Chris Walden. Following their video, Claire danced to “Snow Queen” from The Nutcracker, by Mr. Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Next, the A Ca-Bellas presented their voices beautifully in “Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy” by Mr. Tchaikovsky, arranged by Mr. Jeff Funk. Each musician within the Sacred Heart Orchestra played with complete tranquility while performing “Christmas Time is Here” by Mr. Vince Guaraldi, arranged by Mr. Lowery, and “African Noel Liberian Folk Song,” arranged by Mr. Johnnie Vinson. The Madrigals closed the night with “Mary Sat a-Rockin’” by Mr. Gilpin, “Breath of Heaven (Mary’s Song)” by Mr. Chris Eaton and Mrs. Amy Grant, arranged by Mr. Craig Courtney, and “Carol of the Bells” by Mr. Peter J. Wilhousky.
The groups work on their songs for months leading up to their performance. Each student who is involved in a musical group gets to express themselves through the concert. The concert brings together families of the Sacred Heart community. The memories created at the annual Christmas concert will continue to flourish every year. Miss Gennaro feels that the Christmas concert also benefits the entire community and not just the students.
“It is great in bringing the community together, creating a fantastic Christmas atmosphere in the whole school,” Miss Gennaro said.
Featured Image by Casey Smith ’26
