New Tradition
West Mesa Concert Choir Performs Free Tonight
The holidays are all about tradition, and a new one is starting at West Mesa High School, thanks to its new director of choir and orchestra.
The school’s chamber orchestra and concert choir are holding a free holiday concert tonight in the West Mesa Randy Castillo Performing Arts Center.
As far as director Gary Wayne Pyland is concerned, “this is the start of a tradition,” he said.
“This is my inaugural year at the school,” said Pyland, who is also the Albuquerque Civic Chorus conductor in residence. “We started with 18 students in the first week of school, and it’s grown to over 80. We have a busy and growing season.”
The concert will feature two parts, with the orchestra performing pieces from the “Nutcracker Suite,” the “Heron Chorale” and the “Dance of the Tumblers” from the “Snow Maiden.”
Pyland said he expects the latter piece will draw plenty of attention.
“The people will really enjoy it,” he said.
And the choir will sing many traditional holiday songs, encouraging audience participation. In addition, it will also sing “Carol of the Bells” and the “African Noel.”
This is the second concert the two groups have performed, Pyland said, as part of an aggressive schedule.
“They have six weeks to get themselves prepared,” he said. “It hasn’t been easy but they’ve risen to the challenge. I think they enjoy being stretched.”
Word of mouth helped grow the two programs, Pyland said.
“I think they were happy to have somebody that was excited to build the program,” he said. “They started (talking) to their friends and it started growing.”
It hasn’t always been easy, but the results have been worth it, Pyland said.
“A lot of training has gone on,” he said. “But it’s working out just fine.”