Students DAZZLED AS THEY SANG, PLAYED holiday classics
SANDERS, Ariz. — The cafeteria was standing room only as parents, teachers, and community members brought their holiday cheer and supportive smiles to Valley High School’s 2nd Annual Christmas in the Valley Concert Dec. 8.
“We wanted to show the community how hard our students have worked,” Mr. Patrick Baker, high school band teacher, said, “Some students have studied music for the first time and they’ve only been doing it three months. It takes guts to get up here and play.”
The high school band played classics such as, Deck the Halls, Angels We Have Heard On High, Jingle Bell Rock, and “March” from the Nutcracker Suite.
“I’m happy to be here, and I’m happier that we have music at this school,” Mr. Michael Carpenter, music teacher at Sanders Middle School, said.
It is the first year of the middle school music program, which includes both a choir and band.
Students from the middle school were dressed in bright white and warm red choir robes as they sang a beautiful arrangement of “Carol of the Bells.”
Seasonally decorated cookies were served by culinary arts students.
As the final song, Joy to the World, was expertly played by the VHS band, Mr. Carpenter and his middle school students moved to the front of the stage and led the audience in a sing-along. The evening concluded as family and friends encouraged their budding musicians by flooding social media with praise for their child’s magical performance.
Story and photos by Stuart Noggle
