By Jim Beers, Contributing Writer
CHESTER — The Chester School District # 139 Music Department presented four music programs for the 2021 Christmas season to close out the first semester of the 2021-22 school year. Three such programs were performed by Chester Grade School groups and the Chester High School Music Department gave the final performance of 2021 to conclude the series.
The CHS Concert Choir, under the direction of Steve Colonel, performs at the 2021 CHS Christmas Concert. The group sang three songs including, “Mele Kalkimaka”, “Somewhere in My Memory”, and “White Christmas (Choral Medley). Jim Beers Photo
The CHS Music Department is under the direction of Mr. Steve Colonel and featured the CHS Concert Choir, CHS Swing Choir “Sound Affect” and the CHS Concert Band. Vicky Beers served as Accompanist for the event.
The CHS Concert Band Trumpet section prepares to play at the 2021 CHS “Sounds of the Season” Concert. Jim Beers Photo
The CHS Program, better known as, “The Sounds of the Season, An Annual Holiday Concert” took place Monday December 13 at 6:30 p.m. Colbert Gymnasium was the location of the event with masking and social distancing in effect for the evening.
The opening portion of the concert featured the CHS Concert Choir. This group performed three songs for the large crowd at Colbert Gym.
The first song was a very popular tune well known by most guests at the event. This song was, “Mele Kalkimaka”, arranged by Jay Althouse. The second song was titled, “Somewhere in My Memory” arranged by Audrey Snyder.
William Smith sings a solo in the CHS Concert Choir performance of “White Christmas Choral Medley”. Jim Beers Photo
CHS sophomore Mirra Krieg sings a solo in the CHS Concert Choir performance of, White Christmas (Chorale Medley) at the 2021 CHS Holiday Concert. Jim Beers Photo
The final song was a huge, well-performed hit titled, “White Christmas (Choral Medley)”, arranged by Mac Huff. This finale featured four soloists including, William Smith, Alexandra Hennrich, Cesar Marquez, and Mirra Krieg.
This medley was a wonderful way to close the Concert Choir portion of the concert and did a wonderful job of spreading holiday, Christmas cheer. Both the choir and soloists did an outstanding job of opening the event.
The CHS Swing Choir, “Sound Affect” performs “Mary Did You Know” at the 2021 CHS Christmas Concert. The select group also performed “The Little Drummer Boy” and “Joy to the World” which included dancing/choreography. Jim Beers Photo
The second group to perform was the CHS Swing Choir, “Sound Affect”. They likewise performed three selections in their portion of the concert. The Swing Choir not only sang wonderfully, but added choreography/dancing, to two of their performances.
The first song was a popular, very moving Christmas song titled, “Mary Did You Know”, arranged by Tom Fettke. Another very well-received and very popular performance was the song, “The Little Drummer Boy”, arranged by Kirby Shaw. This song featured soloist Ace Smith who did a great job.
The final song by “Sound Affect” was, “Joy to the World”, arranged by David Binion and B.J. Davis. This was a very lively and entertaining number which brought the large crowd in attendance to excitement and a great round of applause.
CHS senior, Kaleb Rehmer, sings a solo in the CHS “Sound Affect” performance of “Joy to the World”. Jim Beers Photo
CHS senior, Abby Bollmann, sings a solo in the CHS “Sound Affect” performance of “Joy to the World”. Jim Beers Photo
This performance featured soloists Oddessy Flores, with Abby Bollmann and Kaleb Rehmer. All three did an amazing job of singing their solo parts and entertained to the fullest extent. This was a great way to end the “Sound Affect” portion of the concert and was well-received.
The Chester High School Concert Band performs at the 2021 “Sounds of the Season” Holiday Christmas Concert. The group performed three selections at the event including, “Silent Night”, “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24”, and “Sleigh Ride. The band is under the direction of Steve Colonel. Jim Beers Photo”
Immediately following the conclusion of the swing choir performance, CHS Marching Yellow Jacket Drum Majors, Cayla Sibley and Lily Lochhead, took center stage to present Steve Colonel with a Christmas present.
CHS Marching Yellow Jacket Drum Majors Cayla Sibley (right) and Lily Lochhead (left) prepare to present Steve Colonel, CHS Band Director, with a Christmas gift at the 2021 Holiday Christmas Concert. Jim Beers Photo
CHS Drum Majors Lily Lochhead (left) and Cayla Sibley (right present Steve Colonel, CHS Music Director, with a framed canvas print of the CHS Marching YellowJacket Band as they performed at the first “live” performance at a Chester Football game after being shut down for almost two years by the Covid pandemic quarantine. The presentation was made at the 2021 CHS Christmas Concert. Jim Beers Photo
Sibley said, “It is customary each year at this time for all of the band and choral students to chip in and give Mr. Colonel a Christmas present. This year we thought long and hard about this gift and decided to give Mr. Colonel a canvas print of our first football performance since having to go virtual last year due to Covid restrictions.”
“We had a big canvas print of our first field show performance this fall created and had it framed and signed by all of the students. This canvas print for Mr. Colonel commemorated our return to the football field for the first time in two years.”
Sibley and Lochhead made the presentation as the entire audience in Colbert Gymnasium gave a huge round of applause in appreciation for the return to live performances at home football games.
Colonel then thanked the band and vocal students for their kind and thoughtful gift. He then introduced the annual Christmas Concert collection of money which the District Music Programs conduct for the local Chester Area Christian Food Pantry.
Colonel said, “Each year we conduct this collection by passing these plastic ice cream buckets at each of our holiday concerts. The proceeds go to help the Chester Area Christian Food Pantry (CACFP) feed its clients during the holidays.”
“There are several collections of canned and other non-perishable goods throughout the year by various groups, but the food pantry also needs monetary donations to help purchase various food items that are not donated, especially perishable food items. Last Year we were able to donate more than $2,000.”
“The three Grade School concerts collected $713.55 at their combined concerts, so tonight we would like to add to that total for the pantry. Our Colonel family will also be having collections at our house for those who wish to drive by and see our holiday light display.”
The Chester High School Christmas Concert collected $718 and the Colonel family collected $801 at their drive-by light display collection for a total of $2.232.55 that was donated from the District # 139 Music Programs in 2021 to the CACFP.
Following the intermission for the gift presentation and monetary collection, Mr. Colonel introduced the Chester High School Concert Band to perform the instrumental portion of the concert.
The band performed three very popular and heart-warming selections including, “Silent Night”, arranged by David Shaffer; “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24”, arranged by Bob Phillips & George Megaw; and “Sleigh Ride”, by Leroy Anderson.
All three selections were played to perfection and loved by the packed-house at Colbert Gymnasium. At the conclusion of the concert, Mr. Colonel thanked everyone for attending.
Colonel said, “Thank you for joining us this evening. Your continued support over the years has helped the Music Department at Chester High School to become not only one of the best in Southern Illinois, but one of the best in programs in a school of our size in the entire state.”
“This spring the Music Department will once again chase after a State Trophy returning to Class B in the 2022 IHSA Music Sweepstakes Competition.”
Important dates for the CHS Music Program were also mentioned and include: Saturday March 5, IHSA Solo & Ensemble Contest; Friday April 8, IHSA Organizational Contest; Tuesday May 10, CHS Spring Concert; and June 1-8, Florida Trip 2021.