The Penn Orchestra Presents “Tis the Season” Holiday Concert

The Penn High School Orchestra performed their “Tis the Season” winter concert on Thursday, December 12th in the CPA. All orchestras performed while the Symphonic and Concert Orchestras were conducted by Mr. Coudret performing pieces including “See Amid the Winter Snow”, “The Christmas Waltz”, and “Appalachian snowfall.” Some of the highlights from the show included “Lalo Cello Concerto” featuring senior cellist, Tammy Shu doing a solo. The Chamber Orchestra presented the holiday classic, “A Christmas Carol” with narration from Mr. Boyd. As they do every year, the Symphonic Orchestra performed “Hava Nagila” and ended with their rendition of “Sleigh Ride.”

The groups worked to improve their skills in vibrato for some of the selections. They practiced during their class time to implement those techniques into the show. During the last song of the String and Concert orchestra’s performance, “A boom whackers Christmas,” the students amused the crowd with a small skit. The piece featured multiple Penn seniors playing their boom whacker instruments. The orchestra began to slowly crescendo growing louder and louder while the boom whackers, became slower giving a more mischievous tone. They continued picking up their boom whackers, preparing to strike each other until conductor, Mr. Coudret, ordered them to stop.

These students prepared their pieces for months, practicing in and out of the classroom for their 7:00 show. They delivered a performance enjoyable for the whole crowd and the students as well. The orchestra’s next event is scheduled for January of 2020.