By Maria José Diaz
Staff Writer
The “Lights of Winter” concert on Dec. 10 at the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse included Brighter Side Singers, Colorguard, Concert Chorale, Elementary Choir, Emerald Voices, Honors Orchestra, Oak Avenue Choir, Pit Orchestra and Rams choir.
The show opened with “It’s Beginning to Look Like Christmas,” performed by all choirs from Oak Avenue and the high school.
“My favorite part about the holiday event has to be seeing everyone’s smile shine brightly under the stage lights,” Brighter Side and Concert Chorale member Ariel Thio said. “I love noticing when people are genuinely having fun and hearing the harmonies of all the vocals come together as a choir.”
The choirs performed songs including “Bring Me Love,” “Gettin’ in the Mood for Christmas,” “Glow,” “Hallelujah,” “Hodie/Veni Veni Chants,” “I’ll Be Home for Christams,” “This Time of the Year,” “Three Hanukkah Songs,” “Tomorrow Shall Be,” “World Of Winter” and “‘Zat You, Santa Claus?”
Band and Orchestra Director Phil Bailey conducted the Honors Orchestra, filling the playhouse with Christmas melodies. They began with “Christmas with the Nutcracker” by Kate O’Hara Labrie and “Christmas Day” by Douglas E. Wagner. They closed off with “The Sleigh” by Richard Kountz.
Additionally, Colorguard performed a holiday dance piece, choreographed by coach Steven Gutierrez, to “Last Christmas.”
The concert closed off with all choirs joining together to sing “Joyful Joyful” and the traditional singing of “Hallelujah” from Handel’s Messiah with choir students, TCHS Vocal Arts alumnus and the Holiday Concert Pit orchestra.