On December 11, 2011, the Jesuit-Ursuline Concert band, the Jesuit-Ursuline String Orchestra, the Ursuline Singers and the Ursuline Jazz Choir all performed in front of a packed house during the Sounds of the Season Concert. Under the direction of Jane Chambers and Virginia Kassel of Ursuline Academy and Donovan Putnam, Zane Crownover and Ann Morton of Jesuit College Prep, the “Sounds of the Season” concert celebrated its 28th year with the performance, held at the Ursuline Academy Center for Performing Arts.
The concert began with a welcome by the Ursuline Academy (UA) Student Body President, Maggie Murphy. Immediately following the welcome, the Concert Band played its first piece, Passacaglia on an Old English Carol.
Two Christmas Angels was performed by the String Orchestra and was followed by the Ursuline Singers’ performance of On Christmas Day. Next, the singers performed The Hands that First Held Mary’s Child, accompanied by freshmen cellist Emily Fowler. At the conclusion of the first set, the choir sang a wonderful rendition of Christmas Lullaby.
The Concert Band temporarily altered the mood of the concert with their performance of the famous Nutcracker Suite, which included Elves’ Dance, Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, Waltz of the Flowers and Trepak, all written by Russian composer Peter Tchaikovsky. The String Orchestra delighted the audience by playing Troika. This piece is filled with bells jingling and rhythm that reminds the listener of horses galloping and is considered by some to be the best description of a sleigh ride ever written.
The UA jazz singers spread Christmas cheer from around the world with their rendition of It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, ‘Zat you Santa Claus? Rise Up, Shepherd and Follow and Baba Yetu. The Concert Band then played a selection of the score to The Polar Express, the 2004 film movie based on the Chris Van Allsburg book of the same name.
The second-to-last piece was Brazilian Sleigh Bells by String Orchestra, as their last individual piece. The UA singers sang the notable story, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas as their finale.
The finale was a joint project comprising all of the performers and help from the audience. Audience members were asked to stand and sing along to the Tribute of Carols which consisted of the Christmas songs, O Come, All Ye Faithful; Deck the Halls; O Little Town of Bethlehem; Silent Night; and Joy to the World. To the delight and joy of everyone, Old Saint Nick stopped by for a visit.
At the end of the concert, Christian Carson-Bannister, the band Student Chapalin, gave a touching Benediction.
“The band practiced the songs starting in early November,” remembers Jon Birondo, a percussionist in the Concert Band. Four pieces were selected for the concert. When asked about his performance, Birondo replied humbly that he “did okay,” and that the “band performed well overall.”
A reception for performers and guests immediately followed the concert. Parents from both schools provided refreshments. Additionally, everyone was given an opportunity to visit and have their pictures taken with Santa Claus.
