Rather than holding individual concerts at each elementary school, Monrovia Unified School District held a mass concert on Tuesday for all the bands, choirs and orchestras from all the schools. It was a joyous event.
While some of the music was not traditional holiday fare (“Hot Cross Buns?”), there were enough of the oldies such as “Up on the Housetop” and “Jingle Bells” to satisfy every grandparent in attendance (and there were a great many).
The combined bands from all the elementary school started the program with “Rolling Along” then “Hot Cross Buns” with the advanced band bringing in a holiday note with “Deck the Halls” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” There were even some impressive solos from Alexandra Cummings (“Morning”) on trumpet and Noemi Robles, also on trumpet, with the “Banana Boat Song (Day-O).” The band portion of the evening concluded with “Jingle Bells.”
The massed choirs from all the after school programs then took the stage. With well over a hundred students raising their voices in song, it was memorable.
The beginning strings were the next to perform to the delight of those in attendance. Proud parents throughout the audience appreciated the work of their youngsters.
The honors choir started with “Winter Canon – In the Bleak Midwinter” that brought tears to the eyes of one district administrator (the name of the assistance superintendent will not be mentioned).
The advanced strings concluded the evening with an encore of “Up on the Rooftop,” then “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” Two violin solos concluded the program: Ysabel Alcisto with “Hedwig’s Theme” and Amy Chrissey performing the seasonal “Frosty the Snowman.”
It was a packed house at the Taylor Performing Arts Center that came to appreciate the efforts of the elementary students.
