Vocal music program a holiday hit

GCN Staff

GILPIN COUNTY, COLO. - Thursday evening, December 9^th, found the weather outside truly frightful.  With the wind whipping up the snow, rattling rafters and forcing drivers to maintain a steel-handed grip on the wheel, it was no night to be out.  But inside Gilpin School, the Winter Holiday program was delightful.  Judging by the packed house, the weather didn’t keep anyone away.  Even the howling of the wind outside couldn’t match the excitement of costumed students and camera-laden parents. 

This year’s vocal concert kicked off with Gilpin’s traditional Kindergarten rendition of the “ABC Song” and “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.”  Mr. Warshinsky’s Kindergartners sang loud and proud, proving they know their ABC’s – forwards and backwards.  Then vocal music teacher Ann Wyss took direction of the evening.  She is known for selecting inclusive music that is traditional to the many faiths celebrating winter holidays, and for presenting it professionally with well-prepared performers.  This year’s program, true to form, came off smoothly with a variety of amusing and solemn presentations.

The first song, “The Heart and Soul of Hanukkah,” a lively piece, provided a clue to the eclectic musical selections students had prepared.  The sixth grade choir sang it faultlessly, then followed with “Peace, Peace, Peace,” “Pat-A-Pan” and “Build Me A World.”

The high school choir, a baker’s dozen, is small but strong-voiced.  They began with the folk song, “A Joyful Israeli Canon.”  Soloists, DeAnna Beard and Erin Murray were featured in their next song, “One Candle Lights The Way.”  As they sang, it seemed their words might become reality.  (Maybe it was just the high winds that caused the lights to dim momentarily).  Despite the possible threat of power failure, the choir sang on, professionals through it all.  They finished their last number, “Circle of Our Song,” with no hesitation and exited the stage smoothly making way for the middle school choir.

Gilpin’s larger middle school choir sang four numbers skillfully selected to highlight the female voice.  (There are no boys in this choir.)  They began with “Winterlight,” followed by “Christmas, Here We Come!” A Catalonian Carol, “What Shall We Give?” brought an international Spanish note to the program.  “Hey Ho, Nobody’s Home,” a well-known familiar folk song, often sung as a round, completed their part of the program.

Three stage areas were utilized in the all-school presentation of “Five Golden Rings,” that came next.  The fun began with an overture played on the bass xylophone, alto metaliphone, glockenspiel and jingle bell stick by Michelle Beylik, Brittany Steele, Danny Gwizdalski, and DeAnna Beard, respectively.  These instruments, plus several more, were acquired by the school through donations from the City of Black Hawk and participating casinos.  The instruments are used daily in the vocal music program and many of the students showed accomplished skill in playing them.  Not only were the above instruments used, but conga drums, cow bells, temple blocks, gongs, cymbals, finger cymbals. tubanos and recorders all appeared to accompany various parts of the program.  This smile-producing presentation encompassed students from pre-school to high school.  It began with Katie Vaughn recounting to fellow players Breann Herberger, Ashley Steele and Danielle Utter, her experience in receiving many many unusual gifts (of a mostly fowl nature) over the twelve days of Christmas.  Each day of the gifting was dramatically illustrated by the different pre-school and elementary grades.  There were geese a-honking, swans a-swimming (and jumping rope), drummers drumming, ladies milking, etc. and of course, the Five Golden Rings.  Turns out, all Katie wanted for Christmas was a basketball (she is on the varsity team, after all), and, in the end, she gets it.

Finally, students began singing “Silent Night.”  The audience was invited to join in, and did so, filling the room with strains of the traditional hymn.  Then all members of cast and audience were treated to cookies, hot chocolate, cider or coffee, provided by Gilpin’s Booster Club.  And when performers and parents went on their way home, they found that the wind outside had diminished, perhaps not to a “silent” night but to a much calmer one.