Lakeside High School’s Music Students Perform Dec. 13 & 14

Photos by Lynn Kessler

Over 500 Lakeside High School music students will ring in the holiday season with two free concerts Thursday, Dec. 13 and Friday, Dec. 14. The Holiday Pops Concert and the Holiday Gala Concert will feature the combined talents of the school’s Band, under the direction of Dr. David Fairchild and Assistant Director Daniel MacNamara, Orchestra, under the direction of Tara Buonamici and Chorus, under the direction of Thomas FitzStephens. The three ensembles will perform both separately and together. The performances are free to the public, although donations are welcome.

The Holiday Pops Concert on Dec. 13, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. will be presented in the Lakeside Gym. Musical selections will include (Band): Rollicking Hannukah, Christmas Concerto, White Christmas and Greensleeves; (Chorus): Carol of the Bells, Al Hanissim, Jingle Bells Medley and Petit Enfant; and (Orchestra): A Charlie Brown Christmas, March of the Nutcracker, ‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime and A Mad Russian's Christmas (from Trans-Siberian Orchestra). The students will combine their talents to present Holiday Favorites and Sleigh Ride.

The Holiday Gala Concert on Dec. 14, 7-9 p.m. will be presented in Lakeside’s Fine Arts Auditorium. Senior music students from the school’s band, orchestra and chorus programs will perform holiday classics, including (Band): Shalom, A Christmas Festival, Christmas Day and Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring; (Chorus): Ocho Kandelikas, O Magnum Mysterium, Jingle Bells and O Holy Night; (Orchestra): Corelli Christmas Concerto, Lindsey Sterling's Celtic Carol, Greensleeves, Channukah Oy Channukah and Ukranian Bell Carol. The Chorus and Orchestra will combine for The Sleigh (A La Russe) and Dark is the Silent Night, and the evening will conclude with all of the musicians joining together for Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus.

“This is the 15th year Lakeside High School has presented holiday music concerts,” said Dr. David Fairchild, director of bands. “Our students really enjoy the opportunity to perform with their friends in the other music disciplines, and the performances are eagerly anticipated by the community. The Pops Concert on Dec. 13 is perfect for families, many of whom dress in holiday attire. The Gala on Dec. 14 is more formal, with the students decked out in tuxedos or long dresses. The evenings are purposely designed to present different styles of music, and many people attend both events.”

Lakeside High School is located at 3801 Briarcliff Road, Atlanta, GA 30345. http://www.lakesidehs.dekalb.k12.ga.us/