Woodlands Academy presents its Christmas concert

The Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart Music Department presents its annual Christmas concert Thursday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m.

The free concert, which is open to the public, will take place in the Chapel of the Sacred Heart at the school, 760 E. Westleigh Road, Lake Forest.

All of the choral students will begin the program with their traditional Candlelight Procession, followed by performances from each of the choral groups: JV-Kaleidosope (A Choir’d Taste), Kaleidoscope (select ensemble) and Microscope (student-directed a cappella choir). The award-winning choral groups are under the direction of Elizabeth Kurowski of Mundelein.

JV-Kaleidoscope and Kaleidoscope will each perform three holiday selections ranging from the ever popular “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” to the fun and whimsical “Nutcracker Jingles.”

Kaleidoscope will sing a contemporary version of “The First Noel.” Microscope, which is led by Woodlands Academy senior Yue Sheng Wang of China, will show off its vocal expertise singing “Love Came Down at Christmas” and “Deck the Rooftop,” which was recorded by the cast of the TV show “Glee.”

In addition, five of the school’s students from China — Yu Wei Han, Zijun Jiang, Yige Tang, Shi Yu Wang and Yue Sheng Wang — are accompanists.

Also featured will be the Woodlands Academy Symphonic Orchestra under the direction of Lauren Moldenhauer of Highland Park. Its portion of the concert includes a piece that’s the favorite of every member, “Five Ukrainians in a Bell Tower.”

Moldenhauer describes it this way, “I love performing pieces that are a little different. This one takes the Ukrainian Bell Carol (Carol of the Bells) and combines it with Dave Brubeck’s Take Five. And this will not be our only jazzy piece,” she adds.

“We also will be playing a swing rhythm version of ‘Happy Holiday/White Christmas’.” Both songs include a donated drum set from St. Patrick Church in Lake Forest.

The orchestra also will perform “Stille Nacht” by Mannheim Steamroller and “Fantasia on Greensleeves” by Vaughn Williams.

The Woodlands Academy Christmas Concert will conclude with the always popular audience participation of the “Hallelujah Chorus” and well-known Christmas carols.

For more information, visit www.woodlandsacademy.org or contact Kurowski at (847) 234-4300, ext. 301.