Christmas programs were packed events

DAVENPORT--If one was lucky enough to get a seat in this years annual Elementary Christmas program Wednesday, Dec. 7, they got to see the fifth grade band play, choir sing and kindergarten through fourth grades perform a production of the Nutcracker.

There was no ballet dancing involved with this performance; just a holiday play based on the well-loved story of the Nutcracker. The performance was a musical adapted into a play and was written by Mary Kay Beall, Ruth Artman and Bob Lowden for kids to perform in a production.

The performance included the classical music from the Nutcracker that people are so familiar with this time of year. "Even if our kids are not familiar with the music and story of the Nutcracker at least now they have been introduced to it and may recognize the music somewhere else when they hear it," said longtime music and band teacher Rob Harper. "The classical music of the Nutcracker has been around at Christmas time for years and is a good way to introduce little ears to classical music."

Harper and Helen Adams were the ones responsible for making this year's performance, band play and fifth-grade choir sing happen.

"We started back in mid October getting all the roles filled, music and songs learned and choreography practiced to make it to this night," Harper said. "That was only practicing two days a week with different classes each time. The kids did amazing and put on a wonderful performance."

The support for these students was felt throughout the evening and at the end of the show the community packed into the middle school gym gave a standing round of applause when the performing students made their way back to the stage for their final bows.

The elementary concert was followed by the middle and high school Christmas concerts Wednesday, Dec. 14. For the first time, middle schoolers and high schoolers gave separate concerts in front of a full audience at the high school auditorium.

As with the elementary concert, Harper and Adams directed the bands and choirs, respectively. Pianist Sarah Jane Heid accompanied the choir performances.