Concert fills house

‘Twas a few days before Christmas and all through the gym, not a seat was left open as parents and grandparents filed to watch their children perform in the annual Christmas program.

The Superior Music Department presented “An Elementary Christmas Concert” last Monday to a full house. Principal Scott Kinney pointed out the rules, citing the “symbolic turning off of the cell phones” before he joined the students with a solo in their first number, Our Good Principal Looked Out.”Before bringing the concert to the gym, the students spent many hours practicing and practicing under the direction of Jaime Pandis, who instructs music classes at the elementary.

Pandis introduced the first set of students, grades kindergarten through second, who performed “Crazy Carols,” a set of songs and speaking parts that were arranged by Sally K. Albrecht.

“You might recognize the tune, but the words have been changed slightly,” Pandis said. “It’s about the students hoping for a snow day and getting ready for winter break. Things that are on their minds right now.”

The first song had the students singing about getting out of school early and hoped that if it kept snowing the principal would let them out early. Rather than decking the halls, the students sang about cleaning the halls next as the chalkboards were wiped clean before they were sent home.

In the third song, which rang to the tune of Still, Still, Still, the students were anxiously awaiting for Santa to come. With everyone waiting until the last minute to get their shopping done, the students then sang, “Joy to the World, my shopping’s done, with just an hour to spare.” Finally, they finished with Rap on the Rooftop.

Following the younger students, the third, fourth, fifth and sixth graders took the stage next to perform their selection of songs, entitled Home for the Holidays.

“This set talks about what’s important during the holidays and gathering together with family,” Pandis said.

The set started out with a family finding themselves without a spot on the plane to get to grandma’s house. With the train also booked full, the family ended up “going on a sleigh ride.” To stay warm on their trip, they sang the “The Holiday Rock.”

As they neared grandma’s house, the Christmas tree feud began as the family debated the advantages of a fake tree versus a real tree. Members of the family thought that a fake tree was just unacceptable, while others saw no problems with it. The argument for the real tree was that it wasn’t fake and it had real leaves; a true Evergreen with the fresh pine scent. The argument for the fake tree was that it lasted for years and was less than a fire hazard. Plus, you can always buy some pine scent in a can. But as the students sang their next number, they learned that it’s not about the tree, but that your heart is in the right place.

After a long sleigh ride, the family finally makes it to grandma’s house and they ended singing, “Home for the Holidays.”

With the two singing performances finished, the audience got to hear the fifth and sixth grade band play, directed by Jim Cox, who thanked those who remained for staying. The band played a selection of popular Christmas carols including Ode to Joy, Jingle Bells and Good King Wenceslas.