By Lydia Smith
Photo Editor
lydia.smith3819@mb.rctc.edu
Santa Claus was a guest at the RCTC Concert Band and Concert Choir performance. (Echo Photo by Lydia Smith)
The RCTC Concert Band and Concert Choir, directed by Charles Blattner, performed their annual three-day Christmas Concert.
The show consisted of three segments. The first bit, a quiet and thoughtful concert filled with songs such as “Peace, Peace,” “We Three Kings of Orient Are” and “Christmas Time is Here.” The show was narrated by Othelmo da Silva, who described each song’s movement and its relation to today’s busy world.
The second portion of the show was the intermission. However, the band did not leave us without Christmas music. Instead, the Jazz Band performed upbeat tunes for the audience dining on ice cream sundaes, cookies and beverages.
After the Jazz Band was finished, the audience eagerly returned to their seats for the third segment of the show. This second half was much more informal than the first and had much more interaction with the audience, including a visit from Santa Claus.
Next came music from the new Jazz Combo directed by Nathan Davidson. They are a relatively new part of the band experience. Many of the band members find themselves in the band area many hours of the day playing music, hanging out and, of course, studying. One day while playing, a group of students decided to come together to create the jazz combo.
“It just fell together,” said Nathan Davidson during the concert. Each person knew someone who could participate and they formed a fabulous music experience for not only the audience, but the members themselves.
The concert ended with music from the Aires, who performed spirited and energetic Christmas songs.
This whole concert was a wonderful way to enter into the Christmas season, and audience members left with smiles on their faces and the songs of the season on their minds.