Hemet High School- Holiday Concert

Review by Andrew Vrablic –Alumnus

Well done on starting on time. I hate having to wait.

Combined Choirs

Oh Come All Ye Faithful arr. David Willcocks

Good Soprano Descant. Overall I think it needed more volume.

Chambers Choir

Magnificant. Composed by Antonio Vivaldi

Good Blend of voices and String quartet. Balance was great. It has a
lovely bass section.

Advanced Women’s Ensemble

Tomorrow shall be my Dancing Day arr. John Rutter

Beautiful overall. The soloist needs to relax and sing with confidence.
Good vowels as well.

There is no Rose arr. Gary Garcia

The diction needed help the first night, but was much better the
second. Good use of dynamics.

Cool Yule arr. Kirby Shaw

Good and energetic. Singers need to smile. It is a happy song after all.

Joe Moore and Brad Watson

The Christmas Song arr. Mel Torm &Brad Wells

Brad seemed so focused on his words that the melody got lost a bit.
Better the second night though.
Men’s Choir

Bring a Torch Janet Isabella arr. Howard Helvey

Needed to work on dynamics and they did. Tenors seemed a bit

strained on the high notes. Good strong finish both nights.

A La Na Nita Nana arr. Dan Davison

Good blend and balance both nights.

You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch arr. Jeff Funk

Tenors rocked the first night. Basses rocked the second. You have to
love any song that talks about triple Decker sauerkraut and toadstool
sandwiches with ARSENIC sauce.

Treble Choir

We need a little Christmas arr. Roger Emerson

Good diction. I could understand every word.

I wonder as I wander arr. John Jacob Niles

Soloists were deliciously haunting. A little rough the end on the first
night. Fixed it the second time round though.

The Little Drummer Boy arr. Mark Hayes

Good blending throughout. Good use of crescendo decrescendo.

Strong ending, but the Altos seemed a bit stronger than the Sopranos.

Barbershop Quartet

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas arr. William ????

Harmony seemed nasal and forced. Awesome overall though.

Chambers Choir

O Hearken Ye arr. Alfred Burt

Nice rear entrance.

Perfect Balance

All on a Christmas Morning arr. Alfred Burt

Solo Soprano sang impressively low. Felt very sleepy.

Good Christian Men Rejoice arr. Alice Parker & Robert Shaw

Lovely to listen to. Not so much to look at. Most everyone seemed
very angry about something.

Let it Snow arr. Michele W???

Lots of pleasant energy. Always nice to hear this song. Hurray for
people smiling!!!

I’ll be home for Christmas arr. Michele W???

Combined Choirs

Betelehemu arr. Barrington Brooks

Good strong percussion opening. I don’t understand why the men look
so angry. Halfway through there is a wonderful tempo change that
makes it dance like. This song was easily the crowd favorite. VERY
strong soloist. I just love all the developments with the swaying and
the clapping.

All in all such a good concert I had to come back and see it the next night.