‘A Fun Night Being Together and Feeling the Holiday Spirit’

A new twist — and likely a new tradition — was introduced Wednesday evening at the Holidays With Friends winter concert inside the Dolan Center Theater.

Near the end of the hour-long show, the Middle School orchestra (grades 6–8) joined the Upper School orchestra (grades 9–12) to perform “A Joyful Celebration” by Brian Balmages. 

“Having all of those grades play together was like holding up a mirror to show what this school is,” says orchestra teacher Mr. James Liverani. “Everyone coming together, making a bigger sound, making a bigger community, showing what we can do with our forces combined — it was a fun night being together and feeling the holiday spirit.”

The evening opened with the Middle School choir performing “Bell Carol” by Linda Spevacek and “Dormi, Dormi,” the Italian Carol arranged by Marry Goetze.

The Upper School wind ensemble followed with “Of Blessings So Near” by James Swearingen and “Snowscape” by Randall Standridge. Throughout the night, the Upper School choir performed a quartet of songs: “Riu Riu Chiu,” “We Are Lights,” “Tshela Moya/Ke nna yo Morena,” and “Set Me a Seal.”

The Upper School orchestra performed Winter from “The Four Seasons” by Vivaldi before sharing the stage with the Middle School orchestra. 

The next morning, the impact of combining the orchestras was felt in the classroom, where Mr. Liverani asked eighth graders if they would likely continue to play once they reached the Upper School.

Nearly everyone raised their hand — a significant increase from when he posed the same question at the beginning of the school year, when only a handful thought they would.

“The Middle School students showed how capable they are and the Upper School students made them feel like they belonged,” Mr. Liverani says. “They all have a respect for the arts. And they’re all so professional. It’s performances like this one that will attract younger musicians to want to be a part of the program.”

Photos by Alvin Caal / Friends Academy