Trio of concerts, fundraising dinner are the welcoming party
The blowing new-fallen snow and falling wind chills did not stop Christmas from entering Mountain Lake Christian (MLC), as the special holiday was welcomed through a trio of concerts and a fundraising dinner on Saturday, December 17.
While the winter weather did slightly alter the timeline of performances, as well as the select lasagna or gluten-free spaghetti dinner, the bulk of students in pre-kindergarten-through-grade 12 were on hand to perform selections of the season. Directing all aspects of the program was MLC Music Director Aaron Petersen.
The first concert featured pre-kindergarten students, along with the Sycamore (kindergarten) and Acacia (grades 1 and 2) classes. They were followed onstage with the program by the Oak (grades 3 and 4) and Cedar (grades 5 and 6) students. Tucked into that program were presentations by the elementary band and some special numbers, including Jordan Linscheid with a guitar solo on “O Holy Night,” and a pair of vocal duets, Meghan Johnson and Lydia Rete sharing “The First Noel” and Lydia Cavanaugh and Abi Renteria with “Welcome To Our World.” The high school band and high school choir were the large groups in the final concert of the three-part series. Additional performances included a vocal solo by Danica Dick, “Be Born In Me,” and the Worship Team with “Joy Unspeakable Joy” and “What Child Is This?”
Below is a photo gallery that includes photos from each of the three concerts:
NORAH SIEBERT OF the pre-kindergarten class was excited to share the message in the Calypso carol, “For All Eternity.” Pre-Kindergarten Teacher Mandy Linscheid directed her students in their selection.
MAKING CERTAIN THAT audience members received the meaning behind the lyrics of the music was Breckin Meyer, also of the pre-kindergarten class.
GALAXIE PENNER, FROM the Sycamore (kindergarten) class is all in on the song, “Come On Ring Those Bells.”
AND . . . RINGING THOSE bells was Emily Johnson. The kindergarten class also shared the number, “Silent Night.”
THE ACACIA (FIRST and second grade) class performed “Joy To The World” and “Go Tell It On The Mountain.” Pictured above, front, from left, Jessah Janzen, Jackson Stoneking, Mareena Onken, Alden Klassen, Levi Onken and Ezra Petersen. Middle, from left, Cameron Meyer, Shelby Penner, Caleb Klassen, Joaquin Vidana, Ava Lepp and Nathaniel Toutges. Back, from left, Sofia Flohrs, Audrey Dick, Isaac Nowak, Kirstin Nickel, Owen Klassen and Harlie Krueger.
PUNCTUATING THE “GO” of “Go Tell It On The Mountain” are Levi Onken, left and Ezra Petersen, right.
ELEMENTARY BAND PERFORMERS included Lydia Cavanaugh, on clarinet, left and Abi Renteria Rojas, on saxophone, right. The band played “Jingle Bells” and “All Is Calm.”
ONE OF THE selections shared by the Oak (grades 3 and 4) class was an instrumental – “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” – with recorders the instrument of choice. Above, Zach Klassen focuses on his recorder.
THE CLASS ALSO sang “Your Name (Christmas).” Above, Cristy Renteria Rojas.
ADDITIONAL OAK CLASS students who participated included, in front, Bailey Meyer, left and Isabella Canty, right and at back, Samuel Petersen, left and Ethan Schroeder, right.
MLC SIXTH GRADE student Jordan Linscheid shared the guitar solo, “O Holy Night.”
“FELIZ NAVIDAD,” with lyrics- as well as on ukulele – was the first selection from the Cedar (grades 5 and 6) class. At front is Luke Klassen, and at back, Monroe James, left and Isabella Vidana, right.
TYLER DICK STRUMMING his ukulele. Cedar also sang the song, “All Is Well.”
THREE MEMBERS OF the MLC High School Band’s brass section. From left, Bryce Adrian, Sofia Solorzano and Zoey Smith. The band played four numbers, “Winter Wonderland,” “My Favorite Things,” “Adventum” and “Holiday Grand Finale.”
TWO REED INSTRUMENTS from the high school band – and their instrumentalists. At left, on clarinet, Sara Quiring, and at right, on saxophone, Elizabeth Linscheid.
THE MLC HIGH School Choir, under the lead of MLC Music Director Aaron Petersen, bottom right. Choir members include, front, from left, Riley Schroeder, Miriam Rete, Eli Johnson, Mark Quiring, Sofia Solorzano and Kate Janzen. Second row, from left, Zoey Smith, Sara Quiring, Paige Riihl, Drayton Klassen and Kylie Klassen. Third row, from left, Bren Toutges, Zadok Ford, Regan James, Cheyanne Courts, Summer Janzen, Rachel Sajban and Danica Dick. Back, from left, Bryce Adrian, Abraham Stoesz, Katey Fast, Jack Lepp, Sarah Sajban and Elizabeth Linscheid.
THE CHOIR PERFORMED six songs. That list included “Sanctus,” “Still of the Evening,” “Joy, A Medley of Carols,” “God Rest Ye/He Has Come,” “Light of the World” (with soloists Zoey Smith, Cheyanne Courts, Katey Fast, Eli Johnson, Miriam Rete and Riley Schroeder) and “Jesus, Oh What A Wonderful Child” (with soloist Danica Dick). Choir members above include, at front, Zoey Smith, and at back, from left, Bren Toutges, Zadok Ford and Regan James.
MLC SENIOR DANICA Dick performed a vocal solo on the number, “Be Born In Me.”
