On December 13th, the choir had its 2022 winter concert. The students have spent the past quarter learning and rehearsing these songs to bring lots of holiday cheer!

The night began with three selections from the Concert Choir: “December’s Keep” by Greg Gilpin; “We Three Kings”, arranged by Andy Beck; and “Jolly Jingle Christmas Medley”, a collection of holiday songs arranged by Alan Billingsley. The concert choir did very well and has improved since their last performance.

Cantare came up next and performed four selections: “A Bit of Holiday Cheer”, arranged by Teena Chinn; “The Shepherd’s Spiritual” by Donald Moore; “A La Nanita Nana (with Coventry Carol)”, arranged by Greg Gilpin; and “A Light of Hope, A Song of Peace” by Mark Burrows. Sopranos Kelsie Williams and Dawona Wilson have solos in “The Shepherd’s Spiritual”.

Following Cantare came Davie High’s first-ever Bell Choir. This is an auditioned group of students who want to learn the art of ringing handbells. This choir came about from students having an interest in ringing handbells and a very generous donor who provided the money to purchase the handbells. They played two pieces: “Thy Strong Word”, arranged by John Behnke, and, appropriately, “Carol of the Bells”, arranged by Cathy Moklebust. We would like to give a very special thanks to the donor and Clemmons Presbyterian Church for letting us borrow their mallets and higher octave bells.

Last up for the night was the auditioned choir, Vocal Ensemble. They have been in such high demand this year that they have had to turn down some gigs! They have performed at the Bermuda Run Country Club for a Storehouse for Jesus fundraising event, the House of Hope Open House, and the Mocksville Senior Center. They put forth lots of work and had an amazing performance! They started the performance with “Vuelie”, the opening song from Disney’s Frozen, followed by “Sing a Song of Christmas” by Joel Raney, and a poem, “How Like a Winter”, put to music by Ruth Gray. They then sang “Breath of Heaven” by Chris Eaton and Amy Grant, arranged by Craig Courtney, “On with the Snow!”, a medley of popular Christmas songs arranged by Douglas Wagner, and “Where are you Christmas?”, from How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Dakota Henrichs sang the part of Mary in “Breath of Heaven,” and Aiden Davis sang the role of Cindy Lou Who in “Where Are You Christmas?”.

After the Vocal Ensemble finished “Where are you Christmas?”, Concert Choir and Cantare moved into the side aisles. Alumni were invited to stand in the middle aisle and sing along with Silent Night. The audience was invited to sing along to the last verse. It was a truly magical way to end the night!