51-member band spreads holiday cheer at Ewen-Trout Creek

EWEN – Family and friends of Ewen-Trout Creek's junior high and high school students gathered for the annual Christmas concert on Wednesday night.

The concert began with a short introduction and welcome by band and choir director, Brad Besonen, before the Jr./Sr. high school band began to play.

The 51-member band played six different tunes, including "Away in a Manger," "Baby, it's Cold Outside" and "Noel."

Jenna Hash and Noah Nordine on alto saxophone, Jack Boro on tenor saxophone and Cree Korich on tuba had solos during the band performance, as well.

The last performance by the band was a reading of "T'was the Night Before Christmas," narrated by Hash. The band added sound effects to the reading, as well as small portions of popular holiday music.

This performance garnered a few laughs from the large audience in attendance.

After the band finished, holiday gift baskets were raffled off.

The fifth through 12th grade choir, scattered around the perimeter of the cafeteria, began their portion of the concert with "African Noel" by Victor Johnson, accompanied by pianist, Sharon Vannest.

After this song, Besonen introduced the choir, which only has around ten members signed up for the actual choir class.

The rest of the choir consists of other high schoolers who can occasionally get out of their other classes to practice, junior high students, and even some fifth and sixth graders.

The youngest ones practice with Besonen during their lunchtime recess, while others their age go play outside.

"So this is a group that...they're giving up a lot and they're doing extra to be able to participate in choir," Besonen said to the crowd. "And I appreciate that very much and I think you will appreciate that as well when you get to hear them."

The choir also sang "Solitary Snowflake," with an opening solo sung by Eddie Carrothers.

Other songs included "St. Nick at Night" and "All Alone Beneath the Mistletoe."

After a standing ovation from the audience, Besonen told everyone the choir had one more song.

As an encore, the choir sang "Slow Dancing in the Snow" by Jay Althouse; the one song the choir sings every year. The choir again received a standing ovation from the crowd.

After the show, Besonen said of the choir, "We took out our first piece of music at the end of October." With such a mixed group of students, the entire choir had only "four rehearsals with everyone there," Besonen said.

Ewen-Trout Creek continues in the Christmas spirit with the Elementary Christmas Program on Dec. 17 at 7:00 p.m.