This week, Fay musicians gave their first performances in almost two years, with each division sharing instrumental and choral pieces to celebrate the festive season. Introducing the Upper School program, Arts Department Chair Chris Kimball noted how long it has been since we enjoyed live musical performances as a community. After thanking Music Teachers Lloyd Dugger, Ilanna Tariff, and Philip Montgomery for their hard work and dedication, Chris also extended special thanks to the student performers. “You have been patiently waiting, practicing, and preparing for the opportunity to play and sing again, and today that time has come!”

Lower School students performed in Harris Theater on Tuesday. The Beginning Strings Ensemble composed of fifth and sixth grade students performed “Dreidel,” “Jingle Bells,” Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy,” “Fiddles at Sea” by Kathryn Griesinger, and “Menuet De Concert” by Joseph Haydn. The Lower School Chorus put on a spirited performance of “Sparkle Jolly Twinkle Jingly” from Elf The Musical.

On Wednesday, Upper School students took the stage in Harris Theater. The Wind Ensemble played “On A Catalonian Carol” by Randall D. Standridge and “Anthem For Winds & Percussion” by Claude T. Smith. The String Ensemble played “Bashana Haba’ Ah” by Ehud Manor & Nurit Hirsh and “Fantasia On A Theme From Thailand” by Richard Meyer. The instrumental performances were followed by the Bass Chorale singing “You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch” and the Treble Chorale singing “Chapua Kali Desemba” in a combination of English and Swahili. The final choral performances were from The Chamber Singers, who sang “Silent Night for All the World,” which presents the well-known Christmas carol in various languages, including Spanish, German, and Korean. They closed with the rollicking medley “Christmas in About Three Minutes,” which compiles twenty-three well-known holiday songs into a fast-paced three-minute performance.
 
On Thursday, the theme for the Primary School’s program was Winter Lights, and students lined the hallways with farolitos, hand-decorated luminarias that they created in art class. Second graders opened the program by reading two poems that they wrote together, one celebrating “Light” and the other “Winter.” Then they sang the American spiritual “Great Big Stars.” First graders also wrote a poem together called “Winter Tree,” sharing the science and beauty of trees in the winter. They sang the Hebrew Folk song “Oh Hanukkah.” Finally, Kindergarten students shared two poems, an Anonymous one called “One Little Candle” and “The Moon” by Jackie Hosking. Then they sang the spiritual “This Little Light of Mine,” with the entire audience joining in for the final verse. Please click here to view a gallery of photos from these events. Congratulations to all our talented performers!