By JOHANNA LAI
Every year before Malden High School goes on winter break, the halls are filled with anticipation for the holidays, but students also eagerly await the MHS winter concert. The MHS winter concert is performed by the MHS Concert Band and the MHS Choral Arts Society.
The concert took place on the night of Dec. 20, 2012, just before winter break. Both the audience and members of the band and the choral arts society were excited for the performance to begin that night at 7 PM. The winter concert started out with the MHS Concert Band performing “Winter Wonderland.” This song was accompanied by a reading given by senior and president of the concert band, Devon Moran and senior and vice president, Caitlin Cala. The next two songs were “Winter Dances” and “Simple Song” which were accompanied by readings that was given by secretary and senior Simon Roger, and treasurer and senior Jonathan Drapiniski. The band also played “Chanukkah Is Here” composed by Calvin Cluster, accompanied by a reading given by Cala.
After the next song, the band officers, Moran, Cala, Rogers and Drapinski took a moment before the last two pieces to give band instructor Matthew Tavares a gift. The gift is a way that the officers give thanks to Tavares. This year, Tavares was given tickets to the Boston Symphony Orchestra and he jumped in excitement on stage.
After the last piece, the Concert Band gave way to the Choral Arts Society’s performance. The Concert Choir began by singing “Silent Night” as they held candles that illuminated the auditorium. Next, they sang three musical pieces of the “Christmas Cantata,” which was composed by Daniel Pinkham in 1957. These three pieces were “Que, vidistis pastores?,” “O Magnum Mysterirum,” and “Gloria in Excelsis Deo.” “Christmas Cantata” was Pinkham’s most famous choral work of his career. These three pieces in the “Christmas Cantata” were accompanied by the Occasional Brass which included trombonist Clayton Dewalt, co- trumpeters Bryan Hilliard and John Feitor, tubist Michael Stephan and French hornist, Neil Godwin. This is the first time that the concert choir was accompanied by the Occasional Brass group.
Next, the mixed chorus sang four songs which were the “Colors of Winter,” “Gloria,” “Hanukkah Flame,” and “Wassail.” Then, Madrigal singers stepped up to the stage with MHS music teacher Todd Cole to sing “April in my Mistress’ Face,” “Die Nachtigall,” “ Fum, Fum, Fum,“ and “Carol of the Bells.”
Senior Hannah Calderone stated, “I thought that this was a great winter concert because everyone worked so hard to get to the level that we were on. It was great to see how well Mixed Chorus sang and how much they had improved since the beginning of the year- that going for Concert Choir and Madrigals as well. It was great, for me to see the final product of ‘Christmas Cantata’ and to perform it all together. Also, it was so great to do something so fun and different in Madrigals when we changed up the Carol of the Bells.”
To finish the concert with a high note, the Concert Choir, Madrigals, and Mixed Chorus joined together with the Concert Choir alumni from MHS to sing “O’ Holy Night.” This piece also featured section leaders and soloists, seniors Elizabeth Fitzgerald and Joshua Gaviola. With much support from the audience, the MHS Concert Band and Choral Arts Society gave another wonderful and memorable winter concert that anyone from the audience of that night can remember.
