Antioch Honor Society students perform holiday music at Vista East

Upbeat holiday music echoed through the lobby of Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan on Friday, Dec. 2, thanks to an uplifting performance by a group of about 15 students from Antioch Community High School.

A crowd of hospital visitors, patients and employees savored the sounds of the holidays as junior and senior students from the school's National Honor Society and Fine Arts Department performed two hours of seasonal favorites.

“We're very happy that the students chose to spread some holiday cheer here at our hospital,” said Barbara J. Martin, President and CEO of Vista Health System. “Acts of kindness like this can really brighten a person's day while staying in the hospital or visiting a sick loved one.”

The performers consisted of a jazz ensemble and a group of vocalists who sang classic holiday music. The selection included an arrangement by senior bass guitarist Nicholas Soria of “The Christmas Song,” a duet by seniors Alexandria Hoffman and Jordan Jones of “Pastoral Symphony” from “The Messiah,” and many other songs.

The student members of Antioch's NHS chapter are encouraged and required to be active contributors to their communities through volunteering, and this performance was part of their “December Service Extravaganza.”

“It's an honor to share our love of music with other people while also providing a service to the community,” said Alexandria Hoffman, Antioch senior and NHS member. “Giving back to the people around you, even as extremely busy high school teenagers, is vital because it's so easy to forget about giving up your time for the sake of others, so we feel great about what we're doing.”

In addition to the hospital performance, the students will organize gifts for children at One Hope United, make tie blankets for a teen mother organization, volunteer at local grade school holiday functions, and play games with senior citizens at a senior living center.