A Weekend of Holiday Traditions at The Governor’s Academy

Winter Concert
The talents of our student instrumentalists and vocalists were on display during the Winter Concert on Saturday, December 14. Nearly one-third of our student body is represented in our various instrumental and choral ensembles: The Academy Jazz Band, The Academy Singers, Jazz Combo, The First, and the Academy Orchestra. The student technical theater crew ran the concert’s lighting, sound, and stage. Director of Instrumental Music Isaac Kramer and Director of Choral Music Dr. Yufen Yen directed students in the first of two large-scale concerts during the school year.

Musicians performed a medley from Disney’s Frozen while a video created by students in Geoff Brace’s Introduction to Film Studio class played. Familiar hits from Frozen included Do You Want to Build a Snowman, In Summer, Let It Go, and For the First Time in Forever.

Student ensembles also performed music by Noah Kahan, Dave Matthews Band, James Taylor, and medleys from Dreamgirls and Les Miserables.

Candlelight Service and Holiday Dinner
On the Sunday following the Winter Concert, our student musicians perform for the community once again, this time in a different setting. Held each year in the Moseley Chapel, the non-denominational Candlelight Service features uplifting music and meaningful readings from many religions and cultures, embracing the spirit of unity and joy of the holiday season. The service featured readings from Christianity, Paganism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Unitarian Universalism, and Islam, as well as readings from Native American and Chinese cultures. 

Songs by the selective choral group The First included “Alleluia Incantation” and holiday carols, “Angels We Have Heard on High,” “Deck the Hall,” “Joy to the World,” “Silent Night,” and “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” During “Silent Night,” the Chapel lights are dimmed while Drs. Peter and Laurie Quimby light the first candles and extend them to all in the audience until the entire Chapel is illuminated by candlelight—a magical sight to behold. 

Following the service, the community proceeds by candlelight to the Alfond Dining Hall, where our chefs and bakers delight guests with a festive holiday meal.