PRESS RELEASE – The Tamaqua Sr. High School Music Department will present its’ annual “Holiday Music Program” on Tuesday, December 16, 2014 at 7:30 PM in the Tamaqua Area Auditorium. The event was originally scheduled for December 11, but was postponed due to snow.
Doors to the auditorium will open at 6:45 PM.  There will be an admission charge of $5 for adults and $3 for students and Sr. citizens.
The concert will feature the best in holiday selections presented by students in the Concert Choir, Jazz Chorale, Sr. High Wind Ensemble, and the ‘Raider’ Concert Band.
The Wind Ensemble featuring musicians from grades 9-12 will open the program with “Christmas Day” by Gustav Holst. They will follow that with a partner song pairing of “Coventry Carol” with “Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring” arranged by Calvin Custer.
The Concert Choir opens the vocal portion of the concert with “Shout Allelu” by Roger Emerson. They will follow that with a selection entitled “Were You There on That Christmas Night” written by Natalie Sleeth. They will then sing a Phillip Kern arrangement “Still the Holiest Night.”The first half of the program comes to a close with the choir singing the pop selection “Where Are You Christmas” made famous by pop superstar Faith Hill.
The ‘Raider’ Concert Band opens the second half of the program with “Christmas Declaration” by Robert W. Smith.  The program continues with “Fantasia on We Three Kings” arranged by Jack Bullock. The band completes their portion of the program with the LeRoy Anderson holiday classic “Sleigh Ride” and “Carol of the Bells”.
The Jazz & Concert Chorale will close the program beginning with “Caroling,Caroling” by Alfred Burt. A John Rutter holiday classic “Candlelight Carol” is next. An original Christmas spiritual “Follow That Star” by Brian Lewis features the men of the chorale.  The Jazz Chorale closes their set with the timeless holiday classic “Baby It’s Cold Outside.”
The program will conclude with the audience joining the band and choir for a festive sing-a-long.
Accompanists for the choirs are Sierra Petrucci, Faith Roberts and Patrick McMullen.
The ‘Raider’ Band and Sr. High Wind Ensemble are under the direction of Mark Beltz and the Concert Choir and Jazz Chorale are under the direction of John Buglio.