A Rockin' JCA Christmas

‘Tis the season to be jolly. And to play Christmas music.

Joliet Catholic Academy’s Christmas Concert is an annual event staged by the Music Department to celebrate Christmas in song. Two concerts were held on Tuesday, Dec. 13 – a one-hour performance during the school day, then the full program at night.

Performances were given by Beginning Handbells, Handbell Ensemble, Handbell Club, Tapestry, Vocal Ensemble and the school band, along with vocal solos and teacher Joyce Kelstrom’s handbell solos.

It was the debut of the Handbell Club, which formed this year. The club is made up of seniors who do not have an eighth-period class. They gave up their time to complement a class of three students. This group performed “Winter Wonderland” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

The three-student Handbell Ensemble performed “Greensleeves (What Child Is This)” with sophomore Nate Pultorak shining on the dulcimer and Kelstrom playing the handbells. They also played “Carol of the Bells” using a bell tree, “Angels We Have Heard on High” and a “St. Nick’s” medley.

While the beginning bells performed a variety of Christmas carol arrangements, the five-student Tapestry sang “Where Are You Christmas?” along with “Peace, Peace,” “Ave Maria,” “Carol of the Christmas Bells” and “We Sing Gloria.” With the vocal ensemble, they performed “Mister Santa” and a holiday medley.

Led by Jennifer Szynal, the band played “Fum, Fum, Fum,” “Faeries” and “Nightmare before Christmas.” Solos featured were Simone Jones singing “Silent Night,” Lauren Faber singing “Have Yourself a Merry Christmas,” and Myra Vilas on the piano playing “Ding Dong Merrily on High” and “Deck the Halls.”

According to Szynal, “Faeries” was a rock version of the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. The melody comes from “The Nutcracker,” but the harmonies and percussion parts were changed. “Fum, Fum, Fum” is a traditional Christmas song and “Nightmare before Christmas” is from Danny Elfman’s repertoire.

Band members performing were Ian Aker, Bryan Bennis, David Byrne, Andrew Casey, Matt Casey, Louis Dow, Juan Guzman, Kevin Heinemann, Grayson Horton, Megan Lemke, Connor McNulty, Peter McWherter, Nate Pultorak, Tracey Sams and Anne Thuot.

“I felt the band sounded phenomenal,” Szynal said. “They have grown so much in their ability to perform different techniques, good balance and superb musicality. Each student brings their sound and personality to the group. As a music educator, I could not ask for any better group of individuals.”

The two newest groups that performed were the Handbell Ensemble and the Handbell Club. On one piece, the handbells and band joined together to play “Faeries” from the Nutcracker Suite.