Upcoming Niwot High School winter concerts

Winter is a time for cheer, time with loved ones, good food, and of course, festive music. The Niwot High School orchestras, choirs, and bands will be hosting their annual winter concerts from Dec. 4 through Dec. 7.

Kicking off the performance schedule on Monday, Dec. 4 at 7:00 p.m. is the “Winter Jazz in the Rockies” concert featuring the two jazz band ensembles at Niwot High School. The ensembles will perform several pieces including Dave Brubeck’s “Take Five,” Van Morrison’s “Moondance,” Lena Horne’s famous “Stormy Weather,” and more. The jazz bands will hold their concert in the NHS Learning Commons area.

Following the jazz ensembles, the orchestra will perform on Tuesday, Dec. 5 at 6pm under the direction of Keynes Chen, who, over the summer, took a group of orchestra students to the Baltics. Their “Symphony of the Solstice” concert will take place in the auditorium at Niwot High School and feature eight different ensembles - five from Niwot High School and three guests from feeder schools. Sunset Middle School will showcase their mariachi group and orchestra, and Indian Peaks Elementary will bring their mariachi ensemble. In addition to class rehearsal, Chen has added extra rehearsals after school so that the ensembles from the feeder schools have the opportunity to practice with the ensembles at NHS. Across the ensembles, there is a high variety of genres such as Mariachi, jazz, movie soundtracks, classical music, and video game soundtracks. “[audiences] will find excitement, moving emotions, humor, intensity, and holiday cheer,” says Chen. Sing-alongs, digital imagery, and a student-created skit will also be a part of the evening’s festivities.

Wednesday performances will highlight the various choir ensembles at NHS starting at 6 p.m. in the NHS auditorium. All five choral groups and a student-led a capella group will be performing several winter songs, including classics such as “The Christmas Song, “Jingle Bell Rock," and "Let it Snow.” Additionally there will be a combined performance of “Betelehemu” which has been performed as a combined piece for several years. Recently NHS choir director Laura Walters has been inviting alumni to participate in the final tune of the evening. “It has been the [finale] for the Winter Choir Concert for 20-plus years,” noted Walters.

To conclude the week of festivities and live music, the NHS Symphonic Band, Marching Band, and Sunset Middle School Advanced Band will hold their “Evergreen” concert on Thursday Dec. 7, starting at 6 p.m. in the NHS auditorium “The Symphonic Band [will be] playing a medley of songs from “The Polar Express” as well as an arrangement of “Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow.” The Marching Band will not be marching for this concert, but rather performing as a sit-down band to perform various selections such as “Peace Jubilee” and “Dashing Through the Snow.”

The night won’t end there as Madeleine Cort, Director of Bands at Sunset Middle School, will bring her Advanced Band to perform a combined piece from the “Nutcracker” and another titled “Minka’s Sleigh Ride.”

All ensembles have been working hard since mid-October to put these concerts together for family, friends, and the community. “There is a tremendous amount of talent and hard work at Niwot High School,” said band director Wade Hendricks, “and these students have chosen to dedicate [their] time and energy to [performing].”

Admission to concerts is free, but donations are appreciated.