Amity High Winter Concert Preview; Mark Your Calendars for Dec. 16

Bethany and Woodbridge have several more weekends of holiday celebrations coming up, and those who enjoy music will love what Amity Music Director Chris Hickerson and Orchestra Conductor Philip Dolan have cooked up for their Dec. 16 concert at Amity Regional High School. Bethwood Patch stopped by to watch part of a rehearsal this week and despite about half the students being away on a field trip, the musicians and singers still sounded amazing.

Take a few minutes and watch the attached videos to see just a tiny bit of what they will bring to the stage next week. Then take that and multiply is by at least seven, because on the night of the concert the full choir, band and strings ensemble will be on stage at once, almost 150 students performing together.

This year, to involve even more members of the community, the music department has organized a free dinner for the senior citizens of Amity, co-sponsored by the Jamie Hulley Foundation for the Arts and provided by Chef Hans, Amity culinary teacher, and his students.

"The seniors will be served dinner first," Hickerson said, "then scooted down the hall to the auditorium for the show."

The performance will include:

Amity Chamber Singers:  Alleluia, Bidi Bom, Ding-A-Ding-A-Ding, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Local Vocals: The Boy From New York City

Charmonizers:  Paparazzi

Razorsharps: Stand By Me

Combined Chamber Singers and Band and Strings:  Christmas Bells are Ringing

Combined Choir and Bands: Sleigh Ride, Variations on "Jingle Bells"

Concert Band/Wind Ensemble: Themes from the Nutcracker

Jazz Ensemble: Baby It's Cold Outside

The festivities begin at 5 p.m. and continue to 10 p.m. with a snow date of Dec. 21.