6th Grade Band and Junior High Band perform exceptionally well!
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – The Annual Chester Grade School Christmas Concert took place Thursday December 5. The event was hosted at the Chester High School Gymnasium in order to accommodate the large crowd comfortably and safely, and because parking was much more available at the CHS location.
Sue Colonel is the CGS Band Director and she had the members of the 6th Grade Band and Junior High Band well-rehearsed! The musicians performed very well and very professionally, and provided the large crowd on hand with a fantastic evening of Christmas music.
The first half of the concert featured the 6th Grade Band. Mrs. Colonel praised their high level of improvement above last year’s abilities and noted that the music to be presented was of noticeably higher quality and accuracy.
Mrs. Colonel was certainly correct, as the 6th graders did a wonderful job of performing and wowed the crowd with four musical selections.
The first song was titled, “March for Christmas”, by John Edmondson. Next the band played, “Santa’s Toy March”, by Sean O’Loughlin. The third selection was the ever-popular, “Sleigh Ride”, arr. Michael Story. The 6th Grade Band closed out its portion of the show with a rousing song titled, “A Christmas Fanfare”, by Randall Standridge.
Following the 6th Grade performances, Mrs. Colonel and her husband, Steve Colonel, the Chester High School Band Director, conducted their annual fund-raising effort to help support the Chester Area Christian Food Pantry.
This has become an annual event at District # 139 concert. Mr. Colonel noted that the project is nearing $10,000 mark that has been raised by concert-goers over the years from collections at CGS Concerts, the CHS Concerts and at the Colonel’s Christmas light displays hosted at their home.
The 2024 CGS Christmas Concert raised $471.58 from donations made by patrons in attendance. That amount will be combined with the CHS Christmas Concert donations and donations made at the Colonel household from drive-by viewers of their Christmas light show.
The second half of the concert featured the Junior High Band which included musicians from the 7th and 8th grades. These musician are seasoned and perform with a high level of music excellence and pageantry. The Jr. High Band also performed four musical selections.
The first song was titled, “Christmas Light Fanfare”, by Randall Standridge. The second tune was a crowd-pleaser titled, “Dance of the Slippery Slide Trombones”, by David Shaffer. This lively song naturally featured the trombone section.
The third performance was a very popular song that was also familiar with many of the younger music patrons. This crowd-pleaser was titled, “The Polar Express Medley”, arr. Paul Lavender. The medley featured many of the popular tunes that were featured in the hit movie, “Polar Express”.
The Jr. High musicians closed out their portion of the concert, as well as the entire concert, with a long time, romantic, Christmas song titled, “All I Want for Christmas is You”, arr. Michael Brown.
Mrs. Colonel praised the Junior High Band for its excellent performances and noted how much improvement that had been made from the start of the 2024-25 school year throughout the first semester.
Prior to adjourning the evening event, Mrs. Colonel announced several upcoming music department events, including the following:
Saturday March 1: IGSMA State Solo & Ensemble Contest @ Carterville Junior High
March 20-23: CHS Presents: “The Addams Family” Musical at CHS Juergens Gym
Friday March 28: Jr. High Band Organizational Contest @ Marion Jr. High
Thursday May 1: CGS Spring Concert @ CHS Colbert Gym, 6:30
Tuesday May 13: CHS Spring Concert @ CHS Colbert Gym, 6:30
Thursday May (TBA): CGS 8th Grade Graduation, 6:00 p.m. ?
Sunday May (TBA): CHS High School Graduation, 3:00 p.m. ?
Chester Grade School Band Director, Sue Colonel, welcomes everyone to the 2024 CGS Christmas Concert Thursday December 5th. Colonel directed both 6th Grade Band and the Junior High Band in a delightful program to kick-off the Christmas season. Jim Beers Photo
The Chester Grade School Junior High Band performs one of four songs at the 2024 Chester Grade School Christmas Concert Thursday December 5th. The group played, “Christmas Light Fanfare”, “Dance of the Slippery Slide Trombones”, “The Polar Express Medley” and “All I Want for Christmas is You”. Jim Beers Photo
The Chester Grade School 6th Grade Band performed four selections at the 2024 CGS Christmas Concert Thursday December 5th. The group played “March for Christmas”, “Santa’s Toy March”, “Sleigh Ride”, and “A Christmas Fanfare”. Jim Beers Photo
The Chester Grade School Junior High Band Trumpet shines at the 2024 CGS Christmas Concert. Jim Beers Photo