Preceding the winter break, the magic of music and dance permeated 100 East End Avenue. Beginning with our youngest students on Wednesday, December 18, the Kindergarten and Class 1 girls dazzled their parents and guardians with holiday favorites like 3 o’clock Rehearsal and Jingle Bells. The Assembly Room was adorned with lights, intricately woven pieces and sculptures—all created by Classes 2-6 through their residency work with Cynthia Alberto in October. Immediately following the K & Class 1 performance, our Class 2 and 3 students took to the stage and similarly wowed their special audience!
On Thursday, December 19, Classes 6 and 7 kicked off the Middle School Winter Arts Showcase. The show featured Class 7’s upbeat dance “Umoja,” accompanied by a West African drummer, students with handbells, a beautiful lyrical dance to “Hallelujah” by Class 6, a performance in Chinese by Class 6 students and several melodious pieces sung by our Middle School Chorus.
Later that evening, Upper School students processed into the Assembly Room with small tea lights, their harmonious voices carrying across the room. In addition to songs like Ose Shalom, Carol of the Bells, Winter Wonderland and Hanukkah Tonight, all sung by our Choral Club, the show included performances by Aleppaca (our US a capella group), Instrumental Chamber Ensemble, Senior Handbell Ensemble and The Kilts (our US rock band). Following tradition, alums were invited to join the students in singing Sleigh Ride, mothers (and family and friends with soprano voices) were invited to join for a rendition of Silent Night and fathers (and family and friends with alto voices) were invited to join in singing Good King Wenceslas.
To conclude our divisional shows, Classes 4 and 5 performed on the morning of Friday, December 20. Their show included Class 4’s lyrical dance to Once Upon A December, jazz and tap performances by Class 5 and MS Chorus singing the powerful “I Have A Voice.”
And as they always do, each show contained a version of “One Night When Stars Were Shining,” a piece that has been sung at Chapin since 1919. A special thank you to our amazing arts department* for leading our students through these magnificent shows!
*Chapin Arts Department
LOWER SCHOOL
Sarah Bellantoni, Head of LS Arts & Integration and Drama Teacher
Lauren McCarty, Art Teacher
Hallie Stotler, LS Music Teacher
Susan Strong, Dance Teacher
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Jamia Jordan, MS Dance Teacher
Patricia Norchi, MS Music Teacher
Lindsay Quinn, Head of MS Arts & Integration and Drama Teacher
Genavie Williams, MS Art Teacher
UPPER SCHOOL
Elizabeth Adler, US Music Teacher
Ray Farmer, US Art Teacher
Allyson Ross, Dance Teacher
Samantha Sherman, Head of US Arts & Integration and Dance Teacher
Robert Thaxton-Stevenson, Technical Director and Production Manager/ Drama Teacher
