Ocean Road Holiday Concert Honors Many Cultures

Chorus recently concluded a series of performances of  “A Holiday to Remember,” this year’s holiday choral concert.

“A Holiday to Remember,” on Dec. 14, marked the first holiday concert since the departure of Ocean Road Chorus directing team of Pat Tranger and Janet Kurzynowski who retired last year after nearly 20 years of performances.

"Although she had previously led the Spring Choral Concert, new Music Teacher and Choral Director Lorraine Cotter took the reigns beautifully, producing a fabulous multi-cultural holiday celebration," according to a prepared statement from the school district.

There were 98 fourth and fifth graders who took to the stage for three performances that combined variations on traditional, holiday favorites with songs representing the celebrations of Hanukkah and Kwanzaa.

Between musical numbers, groups of students performed mini-skits on topics like the history and customs of holiday celebrations around the world, as well as touching on themes of peace on earth and good will toward man.

Dressed in the chorus’ signature black and white attire, fifth-grader Natalie Andreyev greeted the audience, inviting them to join the chorus as they created a holiday to remember.

And for the parents, friends and families that crowded the all-purpose room throughout the performances, it was undoubtedly a memorable experience.

The opening number, “Happy Holiday,” by famed composer and lyricist Irving Berlin, established the tone for the lively set, as the chorus sang and danced their expressions of seasons greetings to the audience.

Swing music-inspired versions of “Once Upon A Wintertime”, “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!”, “A Marshmallow World” and “Frosty, The Snow Man” merged together for the next song, the medley Once Upon A Wintertime.

The chorus revisited Irving Berlin with a performance of “White Christmas”, the iconic ditty about yearning for snow, which the students sang as they simultaneously signed the lyrics.

“Happy Kwanzaa”, “Feliz Navidad” and “Happy Hanukkah, My Friend” visited the traditions and customs of holiday celebrations worldwide.

Fourth-grader Max Brushaber was joined by fifth-graders Paul Franceschini and Emily Brown in a skit about the meaning of the holidays.

As the boys debated the importance of Santa Claus and presents, Emily reminded them that Christmas is really about goodwill toward our fellow human beings.

All three students did agree, however, about the importance of partying at Christmas time as the chorus launched into “Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree."

As Santa (fourth-grader Joe Bobowski) and his reindeer (Cole Schreiber, Jack Henry, Rachel Stacy. Christiana Welsh, Zoe Coleman, Gianna Siciliano, William Flaherty, Danny Burns and Nathan Hancock) danced merrily on and around the stage, the chorus sang the lively medley that included “Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree” as well as  “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer," “Santa Bring Back My Baby To Me,” “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” “Christmas Chopsticks," “Jingle Bells” and “Jingle Bell Rock."

The poignant “Here Am I” reflected the difficulties facing so many in our currently struggling economy, reminding the audience to remember those less fortunate at the holiday season and throughout the year.

After fourth grade students Joey Picolli, Darcy Weingarten and Molly Kate Sabia expressed their well wishes for the audience members’ Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Las Posadas, the chorus launched into their closing number, “A December to Remember”, a performance that, once again, included a segment of sign language in the chorus.

As the chorus members descended the stage and filed out of the doors, there was little doubt that their audience was feeling the holiday spirit.

To find out more about the Point Pleasant School District, visit the district website.