Christmas concerts flood Sanders County

SANDERS COUNTY – A week before Christmas and all through the county, the children were stirring to provide musical bounty. In Plains High School on Dec. 17, students dressed in their holiday best poised their silver and brass instruments ready to begin the Christmas jubilation. The Plains High School and Middle School Christmas Concert began with a flourish as the band played Fanfare on the First Noel, a unique holiday arrangement by Travis J. Weller. According to music teacher Brittany Majerus, they attempt to mix it up from year to year.

“We change songs from year to year so that the audience doesn’t have to hear the same few songs every time. We try to mix things up,” Majerus said.

The performance was full of different and interesting musical performances such as a percussion ensemble and a guitar ensemble.

They played holiday classics including Away in a Manger and Jingle Bells and were accompanied by the Plains High School guitar ensemble.

The guitar ensemble, made up of Dylan Hicks, Jessica Legard, Jake Lile, Jordan Burrows, Audrey Hardcastle and Lily Huenink, came together after a generous gift was given.

“We received private donations and so we started offering guitar classes,” Majerus said.

The guitar ensemble added something different to the Christmas concert mix, as did the Plains High School choir song selection.

The choir performed three less familiar holiday songs such as Deck the Rooftop, Winter’s Waking and Sing Noel Noel. The arrangements were lovely and the vocal stylings of soloists Kitiara Hagerman and Tierra Person were much enjoyed.

“I think they did wonderfully. They have a lot to do because there are only four of them so there is no one to hide behind,” Majerus said.

She seemed particularly pleased with the performance considering the students only had three weeks to prepare. Majerus does her best to ensure the students are not only having fun, but are also learning more about musical theory.

“I try to pick music that they both like and music that will teach them concepts. [For example] the Flourishing Noel was meant to teach them to play with articulation,” Majerus said.

In Hot Springs, the little school gymnasium was jam packed with Christmas cheer in anticipation of the Hot Springs Elementary Christmas Concert. The stage was festively wrapped in red and green with paper candy canes, toy soldiers, gingerbread men and twinkle lights.

The littlest ones took the stage first with no fear and great enthusiasm. They moved together in an orchestrated dance to the song There was a Little Baby, complete with angels, wise men and an adorable Mary holding a baby doll. The youngsters finished with a more upbeat number: Blitzen Boogie.

Each performance group had their own costumes and props that set them apart from the rest. These included halos, elf hats, reindeer antlers, Santa hats and even one charismatic fourth grade Santa Claus.

The student Santa Claus, Ian Estill, held nothing back as he entertained the crowd during the always fun Here Comes Santa Claus number. He danced and ho-ho-hoed his way down the aisle shaking hands with parents and posing for photographs.

Concert organizer and contributor, Tammy Roosma seemed pleased with the performances. According to her most of the children had about a month to prepare. She was proud to announce that the Tuesday Night Show Choir had only two days to practice Do You Hear What I Hear?

“I think they were awesome,” Tammy Roosma reiterated.

The concert concluded in epic fashion with a Jingle All the Way medley performed by all of the students together. Then they were surprised by an adult Santa Claus ready to accept gift requests.

Back in Plains, the Plains Elementary School students were greeted by a full gym for their annual Christmas Concert. The third graders were the first to preform and as they stood upon the platform waiting to begin, many waved to their friends and loved ones with big smiles on their faces.

According to Majerus, this concert is a great experience for the children to have.

“It is really important and a great experience for them to perform in front of a crowd,” Majerus said. “They have made big leaps in their musical abilities.”

The elementary singers took on such out-of-the-box numbers as Silly Holiday Song, I Want to be an Elf, and the fun choreographed number Snowman Jump. The elementary bands covered many of the holiday classics such as Good King Wenceslas, The Dreidel Song and the always charming Grandma Got Run over by a Reindeer.

The fifth and sixth graders are new to the world of musical instruments and seem to have embraced it full-heartedly.

“The fifth graders just got their instruments in mid-September and they have done wonderfully. They work hard and even picked out which songs they wanted to do,” Majerus said.

While the fifth grade band was able to pick their songs, songs were selected for the younger singers. Majerus said she tries to pick ones that the children will enjoy.

The Plains Elementary School Christmas Concert was a hit. Majerus said it was a larger turnout than any she had experienced and it was a nice environment.

“We appreciate the community support and enjoyed seeing everybody,” she said.

Before everyone began descending from the bleachers, Superintendent Thom Chisholm made an announcement. The school received a donation of clothing from the Veteran’s Standown so that any in attendance who wanted free clothes could take them. Their hope was for everything to be gone by the end of the night.

This act of generosity is a wonderful example of the holiday spirit.