- Arts
The Catholic Central music department held its annual Christmas concert assembly for the student body on the morning of Monday, December 6, 2021. The performance was an abbreviated version of the concert held for the broader community on the night prior, featuring the concert band, jazz band, orchestra, and symphonic band.
Concert Band, comprised of underclassmen, started of the concert with performances of “Three Jazzy Kings” and “Christmas Flourish.” Jazz Band followed with its versions of “I’ll be Home for Christmas” and “Hot Chocolate” from The Polar Express. Orchestra performed “We Need a Little Christmas”, “O Holy Night”, and “Christmas Rocks at the Pops.” The concert concluded with Symphonic Band performing “Up on the Housetop”, “Away in a Manger”, and the student body favorite, Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride.”
“There are not many [schools] out there where the band gets an opportunity to play for the entire student body like we do each year with our Christmas concert,” said Band and Orchestra Director Greg Normandin ‘78.
Mr. Normandin began his tenure at Catholic Central in the fall of 1982, now approaching 40 years of excellence through music.
“One of the great things about this place is we promote all programs and activities here with the same spirit, and [the students] have proven that again here today,” said Mr. Normandin, addressing the student body.
Totaling approximately 100 musicians over the various ensembles, students involved in the music department account for over 10% of the student population.
“Mr. Normandin and the band are a staple of CC culture,” said Dean of Students Mitch Hancock ‘00. “I would like to thank the members of the band for sharing their gifts with us this morning. Thank you, band members, for a wonderful performance," Mr. Hancock said.