Sacred Heart Greenwich Middle School and Upper School presented their annual Christmas Concert, December 19. Upper School Madrigals, Hip Hop Dancers, Christmas Dancers, Orchestra, Bell Choirs, A Ca-Bellas, and Chorus and Middle School Bell-Choir, Nightingales, and Madeleines worked to create the 18 performance concert.
Behind the scenes and front-stage running the concert in Lennie and John de Csepel Theater are Miss Danielle Gennaro, Middle and Upper School Bell Choir Director, Mr. Sean Lowery, Director of Upper School & Middle School Orchestra and Upper School Chorus Director, Miss Annette Etheridge, Middle and Upper School Music Teacher and Choral Director of Madeleines, Nightingales, A Ca-Bellas, and Madrigals, and Ms. Cynthia Alanzo-Fay, the Upper School Dance Director.
The Nightingales commenced the concert with “Sleigh Ride” by Mr. Leroy Anderson and Mr. Mitchell Parish, arranged by Mr. Kirby Shaw. Followed by the Middle School Bell Choir, who performed “Believe”from the beloved animated film, The Polar Express, written by Mr. Alan Silvestri and Mr. Glen Ballard arranged by Miss Gennaro, and “Silver Bells / Away in a Manger” by Mr. Jay Livingston, Mr. Ryan Evans, and Mr. Carl Mueller, arranged by Miss Gennaro. Next, the Upper School Chorus directed by Mr. Lowery sang “All For a Baby” by Ms. Ruth Elaine Schram. The US Chorus sang their first song “O Christmas Tree” by Mr. Adam and Mr. Matt Podd, which reminded the audience of the Rockefeller Christmas tree, which stands as a beacon of tradition.
Following, the Upper School Stuart Bell Choir performed “Christmas Waltz” by Ms. Julie Styne, arranged by Miss Gennaro and “Danse des Mirlitons” (from The Nutcracker) by Mr. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky arranged by Miss Gennaro. The Madeleines performed “A Holiday Hand Jive” by Mr. Greg Gilpin. The Upper School Duchesne Bell Choir performed “The First Noel – Traditional,” arranged by Miss Gennaro and “Mary, Did You Know?” by Mr. Mark Lowry and Mr. Buddy Greene, arranged by Miss. Gennaro. Sophomore Nora Gelfand, a member of the Upper School Bell Choir, emphasized the joy she found in performing, and its impact on familial closeness.
“It is really fun to participate in the Upper School Bell Choir and I love the new music,” Nora said. “I love to hear it come together for the disjointedness of the beginning to the beautiful finished product and I am most excited to have my grandparents attend the concert.”
Halfway through the concert, the Upper School Hip Hop Dancers performed “Drummer Boy Remix” by Mr. Justin Bieber composed by Harry Simeone, written by Mr. Henry Onorati and Ms. Katherine Kennicott Davis. Next, A Ca-Bellas sang “All I Want For Christmas Is You” by Ms. Mariah Carey and Mr. Walter Afanasieff, arranged by Mr. Roger Emerson. After that, Orchestra performed “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,”arranged by Mr. Stephen DeCesare. The Upper Christmas Dancers performed “Christmas Every Day” by Mr. David Archuleta written by Ms. Cason Cooley, Mr. Dave Barnes, and Mr. David Archuleta.
Sacred Heart’s Dance Program made its debut at the Christmas concert this year with two dance groups. Sophomore Vivianna Lostumbo detailed the hard work that occurred for the beautiful dances to be showcased in the concert.
“I am most excited for people to see how hard we have been working,” Vivianna said. “We have been practicing since the beginning of the school year and everyone has been really trying their best, despite the fact that not everyone is a dancer. It is amazing to see how far everyone has come and everything that we have learned. I am also excited for the audience, and to see what the other students have done in the Christmas showcase. ”
Finally, Madrigals ended the concert with “Tidings of Comfort and Joy – Traditional English Carol,” arranged by Ms. Audrey Syder and, “ First Cradle” by Mr. Kyle Pederson and Mr. Brian Newhouse. Seniors Hunter Nigey and Colette Minton, and sophomore Fracesca Hinton, the soloists, left it all on the stage with their performance. The singers also performed “Carol of Bells” by Mr. Peter J. Wilhousky and the all the singers finalized the concert with the song “Christmas…..In About Three Minutes” arranged by Mark Weston. Displaying the school spirit through this wonderful classic. Miss Etheridge commented positively on this year’s concert and its improvements.
“I think that the Madrigals are a very solid group this year” Miss Etheridge said “We have some amazing voices and they mesh together to make a beautiful sound, so I am really excited to hear them sing “First Cradle” because I think the song is beautiful. This concert really sets the tone for the Christmas season and it really gets people excited.”
Featured Image by Miranda Zapata-Mardini ’27
