Manitou Springs High School band and orchestra director, David Williams, leads the Advanced Orchestra in Christmas caroling around the school each year. They perform in the SILC building, in front of the high school’s main office and in the media center. This is his fifth year directing at the school and the carols took place on Dec. 15. This year for the caroling the orchestra played “Deck the Halls”, “First Noel”, “Jingle Bells”, “Joy to the World”, “Silent Night” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”.
Since the Christmas songs are played annually by the students, it made the process to set it up a little easier. “More than half of the students have played these songs before, so we only rehearsed them a couple of times,” Williams said, “but after getting feedback from the students after the performance, they want to rehearse a little bit more next year.”
The orchestra gets their music from a book of orchestra Christmas carols. “I had bought the book years ago, and just put things together and printed them off for the kids,” Williams said. “We read through them, then the students decide which ones they liked and which ones they didn’t.”
While the orchestra plays the songs, the students lead in starting and ending each song together, so Williams just takes them place from place and assists when he is needed. “The easiest part for me is the performance because I just sit back and they do everything,” Williams said.
Elise Oller (10) has been in orchestra for about four years and switched from the violin to the bass about a year ago. This is her first year participating in the Advanced Orchestra carols. ”I thought they were kind of fun to play,” Oller said. “At the end of the semester, it is just to give us something to do.”
Oller’s favorite place to play out of the three places they played was in the media center, the last place they played. “Everybody’s energy was up, and there were a little bit more people watching and that was cool,” Oller said. “I think we all communicated really well, which was nice, because sometimes that doesn’t happen.”
The MSHS Attendance Secretary, Catherine Albanese, has been working at the school for nearly three years. She enjoys that the orchestra goes from building to building so everyone can enjoy the music. “Not only the high school gets to see it, but the SILC building as well. I think that’s a nice touch,” Albanese said.
Albanese knows that there are carols around the town but likes that it’s here at the school. “It’s nice to actually see it at the school and get you into that Christmas spirit,” Albanese said. “Especially when I haven’t had a chance to go to any of the concerts. It’s nice to have them come to me.”
Albanese enjoys listening to Christmas music after Thanksgiving, and she thinks the carols can help with Christmas spirit. “It really gets me into the Christmas spirit,” Albanese said, “especially since it’s so gloomy and there’s no snow on the ground. So it’s really nice to have that.”
Throughout the years, the orchestra hasn’t run into any big issues while setting up or performing the carols. “Everybody seems to be pretty accepting, and I know we performed at the SILC in the administrative district offices, and the admin are thankful that people think of them,” Williams said.
Williams plans on continuing the carols in upcoming years and likes to see the impact the music can have on staff and students. “My favorite part is seeing the smiles on faces as we’re playing Christmas carols. It’s just nice to see people stop for a moment and just kind of enjoy the music,” Williams said. “Heck, yeah, I would encourage everyone to come.”
