You don’t need to pay much or go far to hear spirit-lifting, high-quality instrumental and chorale music this holiday. In fact, you can attend a festive performance for free next Thursday, December 17th at 7:30 in the Verona High School auditorium, when the award-winning Verona High School band and chorus will perform its annual holiday concert for family and community. 
The instrumental portion of the evening, under the direction of Band Director Erik Lynch, will include Christmas Legends by Gary Gilroy and Christmas Variants by Elliot Del Borgo, which will be performed by the Concert Band. The Brass Choir will perform Silent Night and The First Noel, as arranged by Verona music teacher Max Morden, an accomplished brass musician in his own right. They will also perform American Christmas Folk Suite, as arranged by Bill Holcombe. The Jazz Musicians will perform Louisiana Christmas Day by Jim Cox, and Celebrate Me Home by Kenny Loggins and Bob James, both arranged by Mr. Morden.
The concert choir, directed by Amanda Hamilton, will sing a gospel piece called Glory to the Lamb; Hanerot Halelu, in Hebrew; Tolite Hostias, from a Christmas Oratorio, and Little Saint Nick by the Beach Boys. Soprano and alto selections will be Kling Glocken Kling, in German, and All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey. Student accompanists include Emma McFarland and Kristin Visentin on piano, Sean McGinley on bass and Wes Ostrander on drums. Senior choir members Claire Du Laney, Anne Palmer, Megan Smillie, Andrea Latimer and Alex Eliasof are among the evening’s soloists.
As is Verona tradition, the concert will end with the choir singing the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah. Choir alumni are welcome to join the group for this final song. And you don’t need to have a student in the bands or choir to attend: Kids just starting out on instruments will come away with a good impression of just how good they can be if they stick with the program.
