The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
High school students prepare for Holiday Spectacular
The orchestras, choirs and bands at Elyria High School will collaborate for their second Holiday Spectacular concert Dec. 14 and 15 at the Performing Arts Center, 600 West Ave.
Nearly 400 student musicians will perform individual acts and Holiday classics for two hours.
David Pope, orchestra director, said the collaborative performance is done in a “prism” style which is an exhilarating, nonstop performance.
Kalee Bondzio, choir director, said guests will be entertained in a fast-paced concert with over 30 different acts fit in s short time.
The Holiday Spectacular will include performances by high school’s wind ensemble, symphonic and concert band; the Madrigals, a capella and treble choirs and the chamber and symphonic orchestras.
This year’s concert also will introduce the high school’s new Ukulele Club.
Pope said the prism-styled concert is “a really different type of concert.”
Musical acts not only will include a medley of Christmas carols through this year’s theme of the 1990 Holiday film “Home Alone,” but will be performed differently.
Performances will be set on stage, but also throughout different areas in the venue.
“Lights will shift and different things will be happening one after the other,” Pope said.
“It just keeps things going and makes it more interesting.”
Something always changes and there’s always something new, he said.
Pope and Band Director Aaron Putka said this year’s concert is expected to be bigger than last year’s, which had a great turnout.
Presale ticket sales have surpassed last year’s two shows combined, they said.
Pope said he is expecting 1,300 or 1,400 guests.
The purpose of the concert was to get more students involved and do more things together, he said.
“We wanted to think outside of the box versus a tradition concert,” Pope said.
Pope and Putka said the concert is a cool experience the students don’t get to feel a lot.
“I don’t know of any other schools that do something like this,” Putka said. “It’s pretty unique.”
Tickets are $5 each night and free for children 3 ages and younger.
Only 800 are available. Pre-sale tickets will be sold until 2:30 p.m. at the high school’s main office Dec. 14.
Tickets also will be sold at the Performing Arts Center’s box office before each concert begins at 7 p.m.