St. Ephrem students celebrate the spirit of Christmas

The melodious sounds of Christmas filled St. Ephrem’s Msgr. Peter Kain Hall on the evening of December 15. Parents, grandparents and other family members gathered to listen to contemporary songs and other selections for the annual Christmas concert.

The audience was treated to the performance of the St. Ephrem School Band in its second annual appearance in the concert. Under the direction of Kerrin Quinn of the Paul Effman Music Service, students from grades five through eight performed beautifully. They played the traditional tunes of “Jingle Bells,” “Good King Wenceslas,” “Rockin’ Drummer Boy,” “Do You Hear What I Hear?” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.”

The band, comprised of 26 students, played the flutes/bells, violins, trumpets, clarinet, drums and saxophones.

The performances continued as the children from kindergarten, and grades two, four, six and eight came on stage, beginning with the youngest ones, singing three songs each.  The kindergarten class sang about the true meaning of Christmas in “There Was a Little Baby.” In “The Christmas Spirit Lives Right Here” listeners were told to look around to see the Christmas spirit which lives in all of us.

The second graders dressed up for the Nativity scene as Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds, the Three Kings and angels. They sang “Christmas Jubilation” which told of the celebration of the angels singing from the mountains. In “Rap on the Rooftop,” they performed a rap song about the reindeer and good St. Nick delivering presents. Lastly, they sang “Wexford Carol Traditional” which was about God sending His Son on Christmas Day and how the shepherds were told the news from the angel to visit the babe Jesus who was born.

The fourth graders sang about activities they’ve seen this Christmas season in “Swinging Down Candy Cane Lane,” and about how Santa is thinking healthy in “Santa’s Getting Fit for Christmas” as well as about various Christmas trees in “Christmas Tree, What Will You Be?”

The sixth graders sang “Angels from the Realms of Glory” about how the angels sang announcing the birth of our King. “Candy Cane Lane” envisioned all the lights shining magically in the night, which should be enjoyed by all. Their final song, “Everybody Has a Light to Shine,” told how everyone is beautiful and has a light to shine – do your very best and don’t worry about the rest!

The eighth graders sang about how the joy of Christmas is spread by everyone in the final performances of the night. They sang “Glo-Glo-Glorius” about celebrating this season of cheer. The eight grade members of the Bell Choir performed “Joy to the World” followed by “Like Diamonds in the Night” which told of lights found on Christmas trees, wreaths, in stores, in houses and in the cities which have created a sparkling magic for all to see. In “Share the Night” they sang how Christmas is a time for friendship and showing one another we care.

Music teacher Sr. Mary Jane Maloney, accompanist Barbara Lee and band director Quinn worked hard to produce another wonderful performance at the St. Ephrem Christmas Concert.