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Magnificent Upper School Christmas Concert Featuring Our Choirs

On Thursday, December 9, the PCA 7th & 8th Grade and High School Choirs presented their annual Christmas concert to a full house. This year many of the songs surrounded the theme of Peace. “Every school year I choose a fruit of the spirit for myself and the choirs to focus on. This year, we have focused on Peace - peace with God, peace with each other and peace within ourselves”, says Choir Director, Kathy Thames.

The evening began with a beautiful arrangement of “Mary, Did You Know” featuring many 8th grade soloists, followed by traditional favorites “Swingle Bells” and “Carol of the Bells” accompanied by talented 8th grader, Hank Sanders. The 7th grade Choir set a peaceful tone with the popular, “Christmas Canon” and Messiah’s “For Unto Us a Child”. Several standout soloists led their final song of “A Christmas Hallelujah”, which tells the true meaning of Christmas- the story of the birth, life and death of Jesus.   

Following the middle school, the High School Choir ladies ensemble delighted our audience with the beautiful John Rutter original, “Angel’s Carol.” Our high school men followed up with a fun and entertaining rendition of “Mele Kalikimaka” complete with Hawaiian shirts and Santa hats.  Seniors Bella Byham, Charlee Olson and AnnaJaye Walters joined their voices for an amazing trio of God Rest You Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings. Zella Horton & Ian Marlow led the Choir in Chris Tomlin’s new Christmas song “His Name Is Wonderful”. This song echoed the 7th grade song, “For Unto Us” in which Isaiah is quoted “and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” 

Staying on the theme of peace, juniors Will Wheeler and Gabe Clark joined their voices to beautifully sing “The Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth”. Senior Charlee Olson sang the solo this year in “O Holy Night” which is always sung in the PCA Christmas Concert. The evening concluded with the traditional singing of the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s Messiah. This year several talented PCA upper school teachers and PCA Choir alumni joined in the Hallelujah, making the finale even more powerful and meaningful.

Thank you to all of our Choir students for setting our hearts and minds on the PEACE that can only be found in Christ! Thank you to all of the families who came out to support our choirs! 

Glorious Upper School Christmas Concert Featuring Our Bands

The upper school bands were back on stage again Thursday night, after a nearly two year hiatus from Covid, for our Christmas concerts. It was so nice to sing and play for an audience again. One of the things that our performing arts students love the most is being able to share their music with others. 

Band students from grades 7-12 performed many Christmas favorites on Thursday night in the Sanctuary for our family, friends and staff. Some of our musical selections included the following Christmas favorites: Joy to the World, Good King Wenceslas, Jingle Bells, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Holly Jolly Christmas, and many other Christmas favorites. In addition to playing our band instruments, the high school instrumental music class performed Joy to the World on handbells and a fun arrangement of Deck the Halls on Boomwhackers. 

The band students did a wonderful job on their concert. I was really proud of the hard work and effort they put into preparing for and executing their concert. We were thankful for those who came to support our young instrumentalists. I hope this is a skill they will be able to use for the rest of their lives to honor and glorify Jesus! Merry musical Christmas!