District 518 student musicians ready to ring in the holidays
Madrigals, strings and more; several concerts on the way in coming daysWORTHINGTON — A trio of musical treats is on tap over the next 10 days, courtesy of District 518’s talented fourth- through 12th-grade music students.
By: Jane Turpin Moore, Worthington Daily Globe
- Madrigal Dinner singers
WORTHINGTON — A trio of musical treats is on tap over the next 10 days, courtesy of District 518’s talented fourth- through 12th-grade music students.
“Seeing young children having fun playing music together should put people in a holiday mood,” endorsed Jeanette Jenson, fifth-grade band and general music instructor at Worthington Middle School (WMS).
First up is Prairie Elementary on Wednesday, with three concerts in the school’s gymnasium — at 8:45 a.m., 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. — all of which are free and open to the public.
“Celebration Chorus, which has mostly fourth-graders but also some fifth- and sixth-graders, will sing several numbers,” noted Jeanne Mammen, Celebration Chorus director and elementary music instructor. “We’re doing something different this year — having a sing-along for all students, staff and guests — at the end, and we’re hoping our audience will enjoy that.”
Katie Stafford, in her second year as the fourth-grade orchestra director at Prairie, will present her 70 string players as part of the Wednesday concerts.
“The numbers that sign up for beginning orchestra keep surprising me,” expressed Stafford, who also teaches general music. “I have 43 violinists, 16 violists, 11 cellists and one string bass player.
“It’s great to have so many kids get the opportunity to learn an orchestra instrument.”
Some of the selections the fourth-grade string students will play are “Dreidel,” “Jingle Bells,” “Rolling Along” and “Buckeye Salute.”
“We are very excited for the chance to share these songs we have worked so hard on,” said Stafford.
Next weekend, nearly 70 of the Worthington High School (WHS) choir members, under the direction of Kerry Johnson, will entertain at the fourth annual madrigal dinner spectacle.
Scheduled this year for Dec. 16, 17 and 18 at a new location — Memorial Auditorium’s grand new lobby — the madrigal dinner will continue to feature crowd favorites like the wassail toast, the presentation of the boar’s head, Renaissance-themed costumes and close harmonies sung by the choir’s auditioned ensembles.
“After the addition was completed at Memorial Auditorium, it seemed like the ideal place for this,” mused Kerry Johnson, WHS choral director. “The new lobby has a perfect acoustical environment for singers, and the multi-level space opens the door for many fun staging elements.
“Plus, it’s a more elegant space than the high school cafeteria.”
“To Play or Replay: That is Out of the Question,” is the title of the madrigal’s humorous skit-within-the show.
“Junior Caleb Dirksen is the jester, while juniors Tim Skog and Peter Scholtes and senior Travis Vuong are the Half-Act Actors,” listed Johnson. “The dinners have been so well-received in the past few years that we are already at capacity. People who are interested in attending next year should get on the list early.”
The select girls’ ensemble, Bel Canto, along with the all-male Vox and the mixed-voice Trojan Express, will sing both familiar favorites, like “Carol of the Bells” and “Silent Night,” and also less familiar but similarly pleasing numbers, like the African carol “Betelehemu” and “Gloria Fanfare.”
The 35 WHS string students of Melanie Loy will bring more musical magic to the madrigal dinner, with their smooth playing of both traditional carols and lighter holiday selections (“Let It Snow” and “Carol of the Bells”) during the catered meal service.
“These kids really enjoy performing and entertaining crowds, and I couldn’t ask for a better group of students,” extolled Johnson of all involved. “They’re the best kids in the world.
“And we’re really grateful to Margaret Hurlbut Vosburgh and Jacob Forstein for letting us move our event to their space; it’s such a wonderful place to be.”
Finally, at 7 p.m. Dec. 20, hundreds of WMS students — band and string instrumentalists, plus vocalists — will show their stuff at their “Festival of Music” concert, a free performance taking place in the WHS gymnasium.
Mike Andersen’s two bands — the 54-strong sixth graders and the 87 members of the joint seventh/eighth grade group — will each share two numbers, including “In Dulci Jubilo,” “Frosty the Snowman,” “Deck the Halls” and perennial holiday favorite “Sleigh Ride.”
“I tried to pick music with contrasts for both the performers and the listeners, while still holding true to the spirit of the holiday season,” said Andersen.
The nearly 300 singers in Cindy Anderson’s sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade choruses will delight with a variety of tunes, ranging from the island-flavored “The Light Come Down” to the joyous “Jubilate Deo.” A catchy “Catch that Santa” complete with choreography is also part of the evening’s plan.
With 100 string players at WMS, Melanie Loy’s portion of the concert will feature sixth-graders demonstrating their contrasting bow styles (legato, staccato and pizzicato) on selections like “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” and “We Three Kings,” while the fifth-graders will share “Up on the Housetop,” “Hanukkah” and “Jingle Bells.”
“The seventh/eighth grade orchestra will do our annual ‘Dance of the Tumblers,’ which is a very rhythmic and fun classical piece, and they will end with a jazzy ‘Jingle Bell Rock,’” said Loy.
Meanwhile, Jenson’s 65 beginning band students will deliver several holiday showstoppers, happily demonstrating their ever-improving instrumental skills.
“The turn-around time from the fall concert to the winter concert is short, but the students are really working hard,” assured Jenson. “It is great that all of the ensembles have one concert under their belt so they can build on their prior performance experiences.”
Added Loy, “We’re happy to share the highlights of what we’ve been working on with the students, and this should be a great end to the year’s second semester.”
Upcoming District 518 student presentations include: Prairie Elementary on Wednesday at 8:45 a.m., 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.; the WMS “Festival of Music” at WHS on Dec. 20 at 7 p.m.; and the WHS madrigal dinners on Dec. 16, 17 and 18 at Memorial Auditorium. The Prairie and WMS concerts are free and open to the public; tickets for the madrigal dinners are sold out.
Tags: district 518, prairie elementary, worthington middle school, news, worthington, music, arts, whs
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