Article by Phoenix Writer Amelia Campbell ’26
The student body gathered together for the student concert on Thursday December 11.
Held during a school day assembly, the student concerts preview the Christmas concerts for family performed on several evenings before the Holiday.
The student concerts serve a dual purpose as a dress rehearsal for the music department’s upcoming events and an annual Christmas Spirit tradition for the student body.
The concert contained performances from the Phoenix Band and Orchestra, along with performances by both Firebird and Phoenix Chorus.
The Phoenix Orchestra under the direction of Mr. Garcia demonstrated a beautiful arrangement of some notable Christmas songs that greatly impressed the audience. After the Phoenix Orchestra, Mr. Vegas’ Phoenix Band engaged the crowd with a number of Holiday classics as did Miss D’Argenio’s Phoenix Chorus arrangement, which included three solos from juniors Anna Prince and Emma Bacelis and senior Olivia Iorio in a rendition of “That’s Christmas to Me” by Pentatonix.
Prince recounted the event saying, “As nerve racking as singing in front of the student body can be, it’s equally if not more rewarding in the end. I get to share what I love with my fellow classmates. We get to show them what we have been working so hard on for the past 4 months” .
Emma Bacelis further stated, “I have always loved singing for other people because it allows me to share something meaningful in a way that other people may not be able to. Having a solo in the concert gave me that ability.
“That’s Christmas to Me” expresses the importance of Christmas and the love within the holiday. through the lyrics, “I’ve got this Christmas song in my heart. I’ve got the candles blowing in the dark. I’m hanging all the stockings by the Christmas tree. Oh why cause that’s Christmas to me.”
That feeling of Christmas cheer was spread to the audience during the concert as they clapped and danced along to the beat.
The student concert highlighted the talents within the music department and not only allowed the student body to appreciate some good music, but also put students into the Christmas spirit as they began to prepare for exams.
One of two musical highlights of the year, the ensembles will again dazzle the student body for the Annual Spring concerts later in 2026.
