Written by Seth Gordon, Newberg Graphic

Inclement winter weather postpones orchestra's annual performance at high school

The Newberg High School Winter Gala, the performing arts department's annual concert, puts an exclamation point on the calendar year as one of the last functions before students and staff leave for two weeks of break. 

Or at least it's supposed to. 

This year, however, inclement weather forced the school to postpone the event until Jan. 5, so instead it served as a celebration of the new year. 

Senior Emily Weiler, for one, enjoyed the switch, as she performed with the wind ensemble and three different choir groups at the event. 

"I thought it was a fun way to kick off coming back to school," she said. "I always like performing, so start with a bang, I guess." 

The trouble was, after two weeks off, there wasn't much time to get back in the swing of things, especially since classes didn't resume until Jan. 3 because New Year's Day fell on a Sunday. That was really the only day the school's band, orchestra and choir students had to rehearse. 

"It went better than we expected it would, just because the kids stepped up to the plate," band director Joel Tanner said. "This bunch of kids has really been a group that steps up to the plate all across the board. Every group sounded better than they did on Tuesday and the concert was the first time we put it all together and ran it all the way through." 

After performances by the combined choir, the percussion ensemble and the wind ensemble, Newberg's honor choir, Vocal Point, lightened the mood and wowed the audience with a hilariously offbeat rendition of "12 Days of Christmas." This particular arrangement, from the professional acappella group Straight No Chaser, begins normally enough, but before long the males begin changing the words and even the song, only to be admonished by the females in the group. Soon enough individuals are breaking off into various Christmas carols before being reined back in by the rest of the group. 

"Every year we've made it our goal to do a crowd pleaser Christmas song," Weiler said. "Last year it was a 'Jingle Bells' rendition that was just as quirky as this year's. We decided on this year's because of all the hilarious soloistic elements. I thought it was really fun and we pulled it off really well. That was the first time since break that we've sung it." 

After performances by the orchestra, which is now under the leadership of first-year teacher Sarah Barr, and symphonic choir, all three programs — band, orchestra and choir — shared the stage for a performance of "Hallelujah Chorus" from Handel's "Messiah." 

"I think it was a big success. It went really well," Barr said. "We've got great kids and our programs are thriving right now. We have some new teachers that are doing amazing. Our new strings teacher is rock solid." 

The concert was originally scheduled to follow a fundraiser banquet and silent auction for the performing arts department, but that portion of the event will be rescheduled for later this year, possibly in March. 

Several performers will have a busy schedule to start the year, as two members of the band and four members of the choir will participate in the All-State Music Convention this week in Eugene. 

Representing the band will be clarinet players Anthony Bithell and Jake Byers, while Weiler, Robert Bohall, Noah Emery and Braden Dredge have been selected from choir. The event, which represents the top 1 to 2 percent of every music program in Oregon, involves three days of rehearsals with professional conductors and music educators before a final concert Sunday at the Hult Center.