December 24, 2009
Arlee celebrates the holidays with Christmas Extravaganza
By Kate Haake
Valley Journal
ARLEE — The community of Arlee was in for a special treat last Thursday as 250 students from Arlee Elementary School performed a festive Christmas pageant for their families, neighbors and friends.
The Christmas Extravaganza wasn’t just a jolly event full of Christmas cheer, but a chance for the students to show off their musical talents learned throughout the year.
Music teacher and director of the Holiday Extravaganza, Brandon Ensley demonstrated his students’ musical abilities with a multitude of different instruments that progressed in complexity as the night wore on.
Kindergarten through third grade students sang both traditional Christmas carols as well as non-traditional Christmas songs. Ensley said they performed different songs that were written for elementary Christmas performances. He noted that most Christmas carols have complex chord progressions and harmonies, whereas playing non-traditional songs are easier for the younger students to play with an instrument.
“It makes an entertaining concert to have a variety of songs,” Ensley said.
The kindergarten kicked off the pageant with a merry “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” “Up on the Housetop,” and “Santa’s Helper Elves.”
Each grade performed with different percussion instruments, eventually graduating to the fifth grade and sixth grade students, who performed with brass, wind and percussion instruments.
The sixth grade closed the concert with a festive rendition of “Good King Wensceslas” and “Jolly Old St. Nicholas.”
The night ended with the arrival of Santa Claus, sparking Christmas joy in the hearts of the young children. The children excitedly formed a line, anxious to tell the jolly fat man any last minute additions to their Christmas wish list.
“It’s chaos,” Ensley said, noting that the tradition was started by the previous music teacher.
Santa Claus visited with the last child in line at 9 p.m., one hour after the concert finished. |
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