Pam Dudding
Contributing writer
It’s always a special time when the students from the local school present a special holiday concert.
The CCHS Band presented their Christmas Holiday selections which created a joyful atmosphere. Many wore their reindeer antlers and holiday hats to add to their CCHS blue shirts, honoring their school’s colors.
The Craig County High School Choir and Band gave a superb performance on Monday, December 17, at 6 p.m. in the auditorium that started the season with a gleeful feeling.
Music director Alyssa Schulk led both the Choir and the Band in their holiday musical performances. “Both groups will be performing traditional as well as contemporary pieces,” Schulke said.
Both ensembles are made up of students between the eighth and 12th grade. This year there are seven choir members: Desirea Becks, Abigail McAlwee, Katlyn Caldwell, Brittany Ledford, Samantha Sarver, Ashlyn Stanley and Sidnee Sirry. There are also 15 band members.
All of my students have been working diligently to learn music of varying difficulty levels and styles,” Schulke added.
They sang “African Noel” and Kelly Clarkson’s “Grown-Up Christmas List.” Both songs were sung with beautiful harmonizing. “Extraordinary Merry Christmas” was more of an upbeat song, as the audience tapped their feet to the beat.
The popular songs, “A Marshmallow World” arranged by Greg Giplin and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blande, brought out some singing from the audience.
The Chorus Band members were:
- Flutes: Shelby Devinney, Sierra Mayo and August White.
- Clarinets: Nicole Amos, Sara McKenna and Jessica Woolwine.
- Tenor Sax was Colton Mabes.
- Trumpets were Deanna Kelly, Sabrina Markin and Sidnee Sirry.
- Trombones: Ben Beard, Eliza Muncey and Annaika Welch.
- Percussion: Isaiah Garey and Latoya Gober.
The chorus played, “Little Drummer Boy” by John O’Reilly and “A Holly Jolly Christmas” arranged by Michael Sweeney. Their finale was, “We Wish you a Merry Christmas” followed by the song “Believe” which was made famous by the movie Polar Express.
Schulke said that some of her band students only started playing their instruments in August. This was their first performing concert.
“I am incredibly proud of my students, and the hard work and dedication they put forth in my class,” Schulke notes. “They put in a lot of practice time in class and at home and was very excited for the community to see them perform.”
