Ridgewood student music groups perform winter concerts

Ridgewood performing arts presented its winter choir concert and holiday band concert in January after both events were rescheduled from December due to inclement weather. Together, the concerts showcased more than 140 student musicians from sixth grade through 12th grade.

The winter choir concert, themed "Good Tidings of Great Joy for All People," featured the seventh grade choir, eighth grade choir, concert choir, Mixed Chorus, Dynamic Chorale, Sound Bytes and Syntax Error. The choirs are directed by Haley Evans, assisted by Shannon Folkert, and were accompanied by Kelly Kendall and Julia Grimmett, with sound provided by McVay Technologies. Selections included “Be Not Afraid” by Ohio composer Craig Courtney, “Carol of the Bells” and “Don’t Be a Jerk, It’s Christmas.”

The holiday band concert featured performances by the sixth grade band, seventh grade band, high school concert band and high school jazz band, celebrating the season with a range of traditional and contemporary holiday music. The bands are directed by John Lindig, assisted by Folkert.