Tamaqua middle school to present holiday concert

The Tamaqua Area Middle School Music Department will present its annual Holiday Music Program at 7 p.m. on Dec. 12 in the Tamaqua Area Auditorium. The concert will feature performances by the middle school Sixth Grade Band and the middle school General and Select Chorus.

The Sixth Grade Band, under the direction of Marsha Rodgers, will open the concert with “Holiday Fanfare” arranged by Michael Story. They will then play “Saint Nick Salsa,” also arranged by Michael Story. “12 the Clock Strikes” by Bob Grice is the band’s next selection. The band closes the first half of the program with “Gingerbread Men on Parade” by Len Orcino.

The Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Grade General Chorus, under the direction of John D. Buglio, will begin the second half of the evening’s program with “Sing Noel, Noel” by Sally Albrecht and Jay Althouse. The concert continues with the chorus singing a traditional Irish folk song “Shoheen Sho” by Bruce Trinkley. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” is the choir’s last selection.

The Seventh and Eighth grade Select Chorus will close the program with “Baby Born in Bethlehem” by Jay Althouse, followed by “Candlelight Canon” by Andy Beck. The traditional Gustav Holst song “In the Bleak Midwinter” is next. The concert concludes with the chorus singing “Where Are you Christmas?” as made famous by pop singer Faith Hill.

The concert is free and open to the public. Doors to the auditorium will open at 6:15 p.m.