Combined Jayhawk-Linn junior-, senior-high choir and band perform holiday concert

Members of the Jayhawk-Linn combined choir performed at the school's holiday concert on Dec. 10. (Photos by Roger Sims / Linn County Journal)

The combined junior- and senior-high school choral and instrumental programs gave a holiday concert on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at the Jayhawk-Linn auditorium.

The choir, under the direction of director Rachel Wilson and with Suzanne Thompson accompanying on the piano, performed six songs, including traditional Christmas carols “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” and “Sing We Now of Christmas.”

Wilson led the choir through a beautiful rendition of “Cantante Hodie” arrangement by Bryan Sable, “Walking in the Air” (from The Snowman), and “Crowded Table.” The vocalists concluded their performance with “Christmas Pops Trio,” a medley which included holiday classics “Walking in a Winter Wonderland,” Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” and “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”

The trombone section of the Jayhawk band performs during the concert.

The combined junior- and senior-high band took the stage next, again under the direction of Wilson.

Beginning with “Christmas Vacation,” a light-hearted but challenging piece from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, the musicians moved through “Snowdrifts” before performing “Conventry Groove,” an uprtempo version of the 14th century “Coventry Carol.”

The band next played instrumental version of “Los Peces en él Río” (The Fish in the River), a Hispanic carol. Next up was the driving version of Trans Siberian Orchestra’s “Christmas Eve / Sarajevo 12/4.” The concert ended with “A Christmas Festival,” a medley of Christmas favorites including a mashup of “Joy to the World,” “Deck the Halls,” “Silent Night,” and “Jingle Bells.”

Choir members

Choir members included:

• Sopranos – Darbi Brake, April Flowers, Carlos Gandara-Sanchez, Neila Haines, Ashlyn Lewis, Catherine Moore, Charlotte Oberdorf, Becca Schade, and Hillary Souza.

• Altos – Bralynn Burton, Annalea Coe, Jaidynn Foxworth, Maddie Jensen, Abbigail Meyer, Piper Pryce, and Elizabeth Swearingen.

• Baritones – Dean Gillespie, Shaffer Smith, Aiden Stark, Camden Wood, and Jayden Gillis.

The combined members of the junior- and senior-high band posed for a group photo in October.

Band members included:

• Flutes – Darbi Brake, Braelyn Mincks, Catherine Moore, Ashton Stark, BreAnna Walton, and McKenzie Walton.

• Piccolo – BreAnna Watson

• Clarinets – Evan Burton, Rachael Felix, Maycie Walters, and Bettie Watts

• Bass clarinet – Camden Wood

• Trumpets – Jordyn Burns, Dean Gillespie, Ashlyn Lewis, Lane Poston, Daphney Rhodes, Ryland Summers, and Aaydyn Wood

• Alto saxophones – Ana Becerra, Gentry Becerra, and Adryn Randall

• Tenor saxophone – Cody Grant

• Baritone saxophone – Hillary Souza

• Trombones – Bertha Becerra, Connor Bond, Bralynn Burton, Annalea Coe, Izabelle Howells, and William Oberdorf

• Percussionists – Tyrus Chadwick, Carlos Gandara-Sanchez, Neila Haines, Landyn Johnson, Michael Meadors, Charlotte Oberdorf, Lydia Schade, Bri Seely, Elizabeth Swearingen, and Bailie Wilson.

More photos from the concert:

The percussion section of the band provides plenty of cowbell during the concert.

The flute section focuses on their performance.

A flute solo to accompany the choir.

The trumpet section performs "Christmas Vacation."

The woodwind section uses decoration to make its performance more festive.

Specialists Hillary Souza on the baritone sax and Camden Wood on the bass clarinet add depth to band's performance.