St. Viator presents Nostalgic Winter Arts Fest

Travel back to a simpler time as students from St. Viator High School’s Fine Arts Department present their annual Winter Arts Festival, “Sharing Our Christmas Memories,” 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, at the school, 1213 E. Oakton St., in Arlington Heights. Admission is free.

Members of the National Art Honor Society will open the fest with a craft fair that features fair trade items created by artisans from Third World countries. These rare, one-of-a-kind items come from around the world, and include jewelry, holiday decorations, toys and other unique collectibles.

Performances follow with a medley of holiday classics performed by the Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, as well as the concert, symphonic and jazz bands.

Reminisce with the Chamber Singers when they sing “Christmas Time is Here,” from the Charlie Brown Christmas Special from the 1960s, before band members play “A Fireside Christmas,” a medley of carols from the 1940s and 1950s, and “Ding Dong Merrily on High.”

Add in Orchesis club members dancing an original piece set to a favorite Christmas classic, and Theater I students offering improv in between sets, and you have all the makings for a lively holiday festival.

Choral director Kristina Sandrock leads the Concert Choir, including 2011 IMEA District VII senior chorus members Sara Fecko and Maddy Kelly, both of Arlington Heights, in their performances of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “Do You Hear What I Hear.”

Band director Tom Seaman will close out the festival with the jazz band members playing a 1979 Chuck Mangione classic, “Give It All You Got,” before offering a jazzy rendition of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.”

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