CGS junior high students perform Christmas concert

On December 7, Chester Grade School fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grade students performed the annual Junior High Christmas Concert inside Colbert Gymnasium.

Sue Colonel, Chester Grade School band director and Steve Colonel, Chester Grade School choral director, coordinated the event with Vicky Beers as accompanist.

The program began with poem titled, "Twas the Night of the Concert" recited by a CGS student, Kaleb Rehmer. Besides being a very cute, clever and extremely entertaining poem, the literary work was designed to educate concert audiences regarding proper concert behavior and etiquette.

"The audience must have paid close attention to Kaleb's presentation because they were very attentive throughout the duration of the concert," Sue Colonel said.

Following the poem, Sue Colonel and the Chester Grade School 6th grade band opened the concert with "A Festive Fanfare," "Somewhere in My Memory" and "Santa Claus is coming to town."

The junior high choir was next to perform under the direction of Steve Colonel. The choir began with a song titled "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas."

The choir also performed "The Little Drummer Boy and Peace on Earth" and "Believe," from the Christmas movie "Polar Express."

The concert closed with three instrumental selections performed by the 7th and 8th graders who comprise the Chester Grade School Junior High Concert Band. The band performed "Reindeer Galop," "Canon for Christmas" and Mariah Carey's "All I want for Christmas is You."

In addition to the concert, the Chester music program also conducted a food drive. Concert-goers were encouraged to bring canned goods that will be donated to the Chester Area Christian Food Pantry.