Christmas Prelude traditions continue

The Tracy Area High School music department will continue two Christmas Prelude concert traditions Thursday at the Tracy Area High School gymnasium.
The high school band, directed by Brittani Klaverkamp, will conclude its holiday concert with the popular James D. Ployhar “Christmas Sing-along.” The audience will be invited to join in singing a holiday medley that includes “O’ Come All Ye Faithful,” “Joy to the World,” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”
The high school choir will continue its tradition of singing Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus.” Singers in the audience who are familiar with the music will be invited join the choir in the performance. Wendy Johnson directs the choir.
The Christmas Prelude Concert begins at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 14. There is no admission charge and the public is invited. The junior and senior high bands, junior and senior choirs, Chamber Choir, and guitar students will perform.
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The junior-high band will perform two pieces: Coventry Carol and a medley of Christmas carols.
A Mad Russian’s Christmas — a Trans-Siberian orchestra arrangement of music from The Nutcracker — highlights the senior band’s concert slate. Winter on Emerald Bay and Winter Wonderland are also in the band’s concert folder.
Guitar-class students will present Away in a Manger, Jolly Old St. Nick, Go Tell It on the Mountain, and Hallelujah.
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The grades 7-8 choir is preparing two concert pieces. Amen: Go Tell it on the Mountain is a Gospel melody. “Sparklejollytwinklejingley” is a song from the movie Elf.
The senior choir will showcase separate girls’ and boys’ numbers. The Boogie Woogie Santa Claus, a big-band number developed by the Brian Setzler Orchestra, will be presented by a boys’ ensemble. The senior-high girls will counter with the Mariah Carey classic, All I want for Christmas is You.
The senior choir will perform an arrangement of Up on the Housetop, with featured soloists Moses Dolan, Tristan Xiong, and Levi Yang.
An a’cappella number, Mary Sat a Rockin’, blends the voices of the entire senior choir.