The 2025 Holiday Pops Concert!

 Hey! Bet you were wondering when I would finally post! My name is Heather Mengel, one of the two social media managers on this account! Senior year is one adventure after a next and I'm so glad I was able to finally finish this post! Without further ado, here is the recap of the 2025 Holiday Pops Concert!

The Holiday Pops Concert

As the holiday season comes to a close, it is time to look back upon one of the

greatest concerts that the High school puts on every year. The Holiday Pops

concert has been performed to a packed audience since 2018. The concert

consists of the entire music department including Block of Rock, Boomwackers,

Cantus, Chamber Strings, Concert Band , Concert Choir, Crescendudes,

Four Horsemen, Full Orchestra, Jazz Band, Nightingales, Noteworthy,

Percussion, String Orchestra, and Wind Ensemble. Together these

ensembles build an action packed night to remember. 

From the orchestral suite of the Polar Express to modern classics like Run Run Rudolph, each ensemble

puts a magical spin on each piece that the audience is sure to remember. 

Peoples Choice Awards 

Every year students volunteer to create a shoebox decorated to represent each song that is sung

throughout the night. At the end, the audience puts money in the box for the song they enjoyed most. For

those of you who have not seen the Instagram post…

Number 1: Run Run Rudolph- The Crescendudes

Number 2: Charlie Brown Christmas- Block of Rock 

Number 3: Tied between Carol of the Bells/God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen- String Orchestra and

This Christmas- Note Worthy 

Number 4: Polar Express- Full Orchestra 

Number 5: First Noel- Nightingales

Concert Choir 

This year the Concert Choir sang two selections, Noche De Paz and Little Saint Nick. Noche De Paz is the

Spanish translation of Silent Night. This beautiful piece was accompanied with flickering candles sitting

across the rim of the pit. This famous Christmas melody has been translated into a plethora of languages

and was named a historical piece in 2011. Little Saint Nick, a song by the Beach Boys, is about Saint Nick

and his little red sleigh. Tenors and Basses added a rockin’ feel by sitting on the edge of the pit and

dawning a cool pair of shades. 

Nightingales

Nightingales also sang two selections, S’Vion and The First Noel. S’Vion is a selection about Hanukkah

and the joy that surrounds it. The song began in complete darkness.

Cantus

Cantus sang a single selection, Rocken Around/Jingle Bell Rock. What began as the ensemble slowly

rising up from behind the banister turned to dancing with a Christmas tree and an impromptu snowball

fight between the treble and baritone singers. The selection combined two of the most recognizable

modern Christmas songs and turned it into a short celebration with much to offer. 

Acapella Groups 

Noteworthy won third place of the People’s Choice awards with a wonderful rendition of This Christmas

by Donny Hathaway. Their soloist was Isabella Murteira, and beatboxing was given by Conlin Carr.

Crescendudes once again dominated the People’s Choice Awards with their performance of Straight No

Chancers arrangement of Run Run Rudolph. Last, but not least, is the Four Horsemen and their

arrangement of Please Come Home for Christmas by Charles Brown and Gene Redd.

Other Ensembles and their Selections

Percussion Ensemble- 12 Daze of Christmas

Block Of Rock- Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Charlie Brown Christmas, Merry Christmas Everybody,

and Christmas Baby Please Come Home

String Orchestra- Carol of the Bells/God Rest Ye and Winter Wonderland

Chamber Strings- We need a Little Christmas and Santa Clause is Coming to Town

Boomwackers- Sleigh Ride

Jazz Band- Deck the Halls

Wind Ensemble- What Child is This

Full Orchestra- Polar Express

Concert Band- Home Alone 

Closing Piece, Everyone- Sleigh Ride

A Naz Chorus New Year

 Happy New Year, Nazareth!

It's been a chaotic 2025, and we have certainly been busy here in the choral department. I'm so glad to report that we have spread lots and lots of Holiday joy over the winter season, from nursing homes, to elementary schools, to Christkindlemarkt. 

    Here's a glimpse into what our select choirs have been up to ask we bid 2025 goodbye!

    Cantus, our select SATB group, kicked the year off with a trip to Susquehanna University, to participate in United We Sing, with guest conductor Dr. Julie Yu. Dr. Yu is a professor of Music and Director of Choral Studies at Oklahoma City University, as well as the Artistic Director of Oklahoma's symphony chorus, Canterbury Voices. Cantus learned a lot from her in the 15 minute workshop we were given! We got to see the campus, perform with lots of other choirs in a combined piece, and meet people from other schools who shared our love of music! Theoughout December, we sang our holiday set at all 3 Nazareth elementary schools, as well as Christkindlemarkt in Bethlehem, and Nazareth's Rotary Club! 

    Nightingales, our select SSAA group, have been spreading music, love, and joy throughout the community! We have been performing for nursing homes throughout the year, and into the holiday season! We are currently preparing for the Roxbury Invitational, and excited to showcase our very own addition to the fantastic Nightingale legacy. 

    Crescendudes and Noteworthy, our select a capella groups (TTBB and SSAA respectively) have also been spreading Holiday cheer. During the winter season, they performed at the Tatamy Tree Lighting, Christmas In Nazareth, and Gracedale nursing home, in an attempt to bring joy through music to those in our community. The Crescendudes, like the Nightingales, have also been preparing for the Roxbury Invitational! We are excited to cheer them on and represent Naz Chorus at this competition!

    However, our select groups have not been the only ones making music for the Nazareth community! Our 2025 Holiday Pops Concert was a resounding success, with all choral groups, band groups, and orchestra groups performing! It was a fantastic night of dazzling performances that wowed each and every audience member. But don't forget- that's not our only concert in the wintertime: Come on out to our January Chorus Concert on January 29, 2026 to ring in a new year of beautiful music. 

    We also want to congratulate all of our Districts and Country Chorus members, as this month they head off to their respective concert performances on 1/9 at Berks Catholic High School and 1/16, 2026, both at 7:00 pm.

    As always, keep an eye out to see updates about all our wonderful students and what they're up to as the chorus season continues on in 2026!