Holiday music from around the world was heard in the Malad High School Gym on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, as the Malad Middle School and High School bands and choirs performed their winter concerts before capacity audiences.  Foster Garrett is the music director, and Lorna Hess is the choir accompanist.

The Middle School concert began with the 6th Grade Choir singing the popular “I Want A Hippopotamus for Christmas” and then an Italian song about “Dominick the Donkey.” The 7th Grade Choir sang “A Christmas Canon” and the amusing “Little Jack Frost (Get Lost).”

Although most of the 32 members of the Beginner Band had learned the rudiments of reading music and playing simple instruments in elementary school, they had never played complex band instruments before school started, so their renditions of “Jingle Bells” and “Christmas Fun” were impressive. 

The 35-member Intermediate Band, comprised of 7th and 8th graders, performed a medley of European songs based on “Good King Wenceslas,” followed by “The Joyful Bell of Christmas.” The concert ended with a rousing “Santa the Barbarian,” narrated by Brayden Eliason and featuring the percussion section. 

After a brief intermission, the High School concert began with the 31-member Concert Band performing “Brazilian Sleigh Bells” followed by a musical arrangement of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” narrated by Aubrey Palmer. The band concluded with “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24.”

A special performance by a 10-member percussion ensemble was directed by Malad High School Senior Conner Worrell. As his Senior Project, Conner had organized ten band members, only two of whom were percussionists, to play a number at the concert. Ten different percussion instruments were featured in this piece that showed Conner’s talents as a music director.

The Malad High School Concert Choir started with the French carol “Masters in This Hall” followed by “It’s So Still in Bethlehem.” Conner Worrell and Adilyn Schow accompanied “Jamaican Noel” on percussion. The Concert Choir ended with “Under Winter Moon.” Adylin Schow played bell and cello parts on an electric piano as part of the accompaniment for the Choir.

The “Holiday Around the World” Concert concluded with the Malad High School Chamber Choir performing “Once Upon a December” and “Glow.” Adilyn Schow was the soloist on “Tidings of Comfort and Joy.” The evening ended with the Chamber Choir performing a beautiful arrangement of “Mary, Did You Know?” as the perfect way to bring in the Christmas season.

This evening provided an opportunity for concert goers to support the music programs at Malad Middle and High Schools through a silent auction. Approximately 30 lucky attendees outbid others to win gift baskets, coupons, and other donated items.

Mr. Garrett appreciated the large crowds for the concerts, saying, “The community was very generous with the donations for the silent auction. We, as a group, are very thankful for the support shown by family, friends, and community to us the night of the concert.”