Broadus Band And Choir Display Talents In Annual Christmas Concert

By Kim Blain

The Christmas season officially kicked off at BHS with the annual Junior and Senior high Christmas concert on December 6th.

The Senior band members, Sophie Irish, Marcus Mader, and Ezra Gotfredson started the celebration in a trio playing "Trepak" (a Russian Dance) from the Nutcracker Suite by Tchaikvosky.

The Junior High Band followed with renditions of Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! by Cahn/Styne, Twelve Days of Christmas arranged by Ployhar, Yo Christmas Tree arranged by Story, and Ukrainian Bell Carol arranged by Ployhar.

Not to be outdone by their classmates, the Junior High Choir performed Lullaby Alleluia by Spevacek, Snow is Falling arranged by Schram and Holly Jolly Christmas arranged by Gallina.

The Senior High Choir joined the Junior High Choir in singing "Christmas in 90 Seconds" arranged by Ryan, which included phrases from 13 traditional Christmas carols for the audience to pick out.

Jazz was the theme for the High School Band this Christmas and they began with Away in a Manger arranged by Clark and Rudolph's Christmas Overture arranged by Edmonson, which delighted the audience with the carols, A Holly Jolly Christmas, I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day, Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, and of course, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

With soft and beautiful tones, Senior songsters Mercy Brost, Michaley Knapp and Lyza McMullan captured our attention with the song Once Upon a December arranged by Ahrens/ Flaherty from the Disney movie "Anastasia."

The Snow Bells, consisting of various high school band members donning Santa hats performed a bell arrangement of Frosty the Snowman arranged by Crockarell.

The Senior High Choir, although small in number, never disappoints. They began their performance with Gotta Get Ready for Christmas arranged by Lightfoot, their next song featured soloists, Seniors Mercy Brost, Michaley Knapp, and Lyza McMullan and Sophomore Shelby Anderson in a haunting melody in Wonders of Christmas arranged by Schram, and completing their performance with a Celtic tune, This Twenty Five of December arranged by Gilpin.

In a plot twist, the Senior High Choir accompanied by the Senior High Band sang On with the Snow! arranged by Wagner, a medley featuring the carols Sleigh Ride, Winter Wonderland and Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

To finish off the night, the Senior High Band wowed those in attendance with more jazzy pieces in God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen arranged by Clark and Christmas Fantasy for Jazz Band arranged by Clark, a medley featuring traditional carols Emmanuel and What Child is This.

Broadus Public Schools continues its Christmas celebration tradition with the Elementary concert on December 20th at 5:30 pm followed by a fundraiser bake sale by the High School music students for their bi-annual summer trip with neighboring Colstrip and Forsyth High Schools.

The Music Department would like to thank the community for supporting music in our schools and wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year!