Woodlands Academy Christmas Concert Dec. 7
You're invited to enjoy an evening of holiday-themed music and then join in as the Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart Music Department presents its annual Christmas Concert Thursday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m. The concert, which is open to the public free of charge, will take place in the Chapel of the Sacred Heart at the all-girls college-preparatory high school, 760 E. Westleigh Road, Lake Forest.
All of the choral students will begin the program with their traditional Candlelight Procession, which will include a version of "Silent Night" accompanied by Paige Bartusiak, a junior from Lake Forest, on cello. This will be followed by performances from all three Woodlands Academy choirs and its orchestra.
Choral highlights include:
• A jazzy version of "Baby Born and Bethlehem" performed by JV Kaleidoscope (A Choir'd Taste).
• Kaleidoscope (select ensemble) singing a contemporary version of "The First Noel" plus a song that Barbara Streisand has made popular, "Christmas Memories."
• "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" performed by this year's Microscope choir under the direction of senior Destiny Salazar.
These award-winning choral groups are under the direction of Elizabeth Kurowski and will be accompanied by Roberta Brickman, Woodlands Academy's private piano and voice instructor.
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The award-winning Woodlands Academy Symphonic Orchestra, under the direction of Lauren Moldenhauer, will perform various holiday selections with a fresh take on traditional Christmas carols. Selections include Ian David Coleman's "A Christmas Triptych," a unique three-movement work that mixes melodies from "Carol of the Bells;" "The Holly and the Ivy;" "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen;" "We Three Kings;" "Veni, Veni Emmanuel;" "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence;" "Good King Wenceslas;" and "Angles We Have Heard on High." The orchestra also will be showcasing its favorite piece of the program, "Celtic Carol," a new arrangement for orchestra that was originally written and performed by "America's Got Talent" star, Lindsey Stirling.
The evening will end with a combined performance of Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus" by the choirs and orchestra joined by the always-popular audience participation. Following the concert, refreshments will be served.
For more information, visit www.woodlandsacademy.org.
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Founded in 1858, Woodlands Academy is an independent Catholic college preparatory day and boarding high school for young women. It's part of a worldwide network of Sacred Heart Schools that spans the United States and 40 other countries. A nonprofit, Woodlands Academy's identity is rooted in Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat's desire to inspire young hearts and minds to excel, to lead lives of integrity and to serve. For more information about Woodlands Academy, please visit www.woodlandsacademy.org