By Mackenzie Arthur / staff writer
In the years past, NPHS choirs and bands had separate winter performances. The 2024-2025 school year was the first year that the Winter Gala showcased both the choirs and bands.
“It was something that we knew could be cool last year but there was no sense of doing this more than once. We were going to do this and if it goes well we will see next year. Then it went really well and that was it,” band director Jon Carney said.
Due to the overwhelming success of last year’s show, the Winter Gala production was even bigger this year.
“Honestly I really just like seeing the kids from both the vocal and instrumental side together. I like working with the choirs. I like doing the big production with them and having the kids see each other’s groups performing and being backstage and seeing kind of how it all fits together. That’s my favorite part,” Carney said.
On Dec. 5 the NPHS performing arts department hosted their opening night of the annual Winter Gala, “A December to Remember,” at 7:30 p.m. They also had a show on Saturday Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m.
The Winter Gala was not only a musical performance, but a way for the community to interact. Along with the performance part of the Winter Gala, there was also a silent auction and the Festival of Trees. The Festival of Trees showcased different Christmas trees decorated by school clubs and businesses in the community. Attendees could vote using pennies for the tree they thought was the best decorated.
The Winter Gala not only showcased the NPHS performing arts department, but it also included special appearances by the color guard and the NPJH advanced choir.
“I am looking forward to hearing all of our ensembles sing and play together. Our performing arts program has grown so much in the past few years and the Winter Gala really shows that off,” NPJH choir teacher Bethany McDonald said.
The NPJH advanced choir performed their own movement and concert pieces, as well as joining the high school choirs for two pieces. Their movement piece was choreographed by Senior Crimson Heat dance captains Madeline Flint and Jude Gibbs along with junior Crimson Heat dance captain Samantha Eyerman.
“This will be the second song they have choreographed for us this year. They provide us with videos that students can use in and out of class to learn the moves and a few weeks ago they came and worked with the junior high students in person. It’s awesome to see my former students stepping up into leadership roles with my current junior high kids,” McDonald said.
The color guard will also have special feature pieces. Their section started with an opening duet performed by senior Shelly Stock and sophomore Elizabeth Thrasher.
In preparation for the show, everyone involved worked hard inside and outside of class to prepare for fun and festive shows.
“It is a mixture of small group, individual, and large group rehearsals. We talk through transition a lot. We have a dress rehearsal before the show so that kids can get used to what the pacing is and what their pathways are. But the majority of them have been through it before so it’s just remembering ‘oh yeah, this moves at this pace,’” Carney said.
With having new groups joining the show, the chance for setbacks ultimately grows; however, there were no major problems in Winter Gala production.
“We have a couple of extra groups that are joining us this year, which is not a setback. Ticketing online this year, which is not a setback. There’s nothing that I can think of that we’ve gone ‘oh gosh this is going to be terrible. How do we adjust to this?’” Carney said.
Students were looking forward to the opportunity to perform alongside other performing arts programs. They knew that their dedication would create a well-done performance.
“I know it’s going to piece together really well because it always has, no matter if we’re unprepared or not. It’s always gone really well, no matter the situation,” Eyerman said.
With the Winter Gala growing, audiences should expect more fun and festive performances at future winter shows.
“Being able to witness first-hand the growth of our students as individuals and our performing arts program as a whole. Working with extraordinary colleagues and young people to create something that our community can be proud of is a joy in and of itself, but seeing the collaboration come together in such special ways is extremely rewarding,” NPHS choir director Michael Dean said.
