This year, the school’s annual Winter Concert, which took place on December 5, was a massive success. It saw a huge improvement in the Glee Club and even introduced a new rock band. The performance also introduced two new directors to the community: Glee Club and Notables director Mr. Donald Holdren and Director of the Orchestra Mr. David Brown.
The night kicked off with The Macroband, a Third Form-led band. Director of The Conservatory Mr. Kyle Struve is the band’s mentor who plays bass with them as well.
Next, Third Form band The afFORDables took the stage and had a blast during their performance. The student section—Glee Club members sitting in the front row—immersed themselves in the performance, bursting into bouts of noise whenever singer and performer Alex Sharpf grooved across the stage. The afFORDables include Third Formers Thomas Lentz, Topher Jodz, Cliff Wang, and Scharpf. Unfortunately, Wang, the group’s drummer, was unable to perform at the concert. Jodz killed it on the guitar, riffing away on Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama” and Journey’s “Separate Ways.” Lentz, who plays the keyboard, said, “It used to feel overwhelming performing, but [now] having performed for three years in a row it feels more natural.”
The final rock band, The Homecoming, led by Sixth Form duo Anthony Valentino and Matty Jones, has a new head singer this year: Sixth Former Render Ford.
Ford said, “We named our band The Homecoming because we played at the homecoming dance this fall.”
Sixth Former Will Walker plays the bass for the band and Fifth Former Alex Rhodes lends help anywhere he can, playing the rhythm guitar or piano. In their performance, the group was short a bassist, so Jones stepped up. The band plays a variety of music: pop, rock, and a bit of indie.
The band has expansive plans for the rest of the year.
Ford said, “We’re planning on writing our own music soon and performing at some venues outside of school.”
The Jazz Band was the final band to perform.
Sixth Former Quin Bongiovanni was pleased with the performance.
“I think it went very well,” Bongiovanni said. Mr. G, [Mr. Phil Giordano], who runs the Jazzband said it was the best concert in years. We only did two songs, but I think we did them both pretty well.”
For a relatively small band, they sure did pack heat.
Jazz was followed by a slew of holiday music. Under new leadership, the Glee Club and Notables have undergone a metamorphosis, letting go of old traditions and establishing new ones. This year, the Glee Club sang “Riu Riu Chiu,” “Bashana Haba’a,” and “The Twelve Days After Christmas.”
“I couldn’t be happier with the result.”
Notables Director Mr. Don Holdren
Mr. Holdren said, “I went with music that I like and that would be fun and interesting to perform, music that I thought would be a little bit challenging.”
As a new director this year, there was a lot on Mr. Holdren’s plate. “I didn’t know the students who were performing. I didn’t have a good idea of what our preparation time would be like, rehearsal schedule would entail,” Mr. Holdren said.
Even though Mr. Holdren went into this program blind, he came out with all eyes on him. He was happy with the Glee Club’s performance.
“I couldn’t be happier with the result. I feel like the guys in the Glee Club rose to the challenge, singing in English, Spanish, and Hebrew. It was a testament to the hard work and dedication that they brought to the group.”
Sixth Form Glee Club member Austan Hengst was similarly impressed with the choir’s performance this year. “This year I think was a big difference for Glee Club because everyone had their music memorized—I don’t think that’s happened in years,” he said. “I think Mr. Holdren’s directing with not only the Notables but the Glee Club this year was phenomenal.”
The Notables followed Glee Club but switched up their usual Winter Concert lineup. Instead of singing the usual “12 Days of Christmas” medley, they sang a new gag version of “Jingle Bells.” However, this caused some controversy. Hengst explained the decision saying, “We have Jingle Bells now, which is the replacement for the ‘12 Days’/‘Africa’ medley. A lot of people didn’t like “The 12 Days of Christmas” because we did it every year, so we changed it.”
“That song only really works every four years. You don’t want people to know it before you start singing it,” Performing Arts Department Chair Mr. Darren Hengst said. “The gag is funnier when it comes as a surprise.”
Another unique thing about the Notables is that during rehearsal there is a lot of member input. Hengst said, “Notables practice every Wednesday from 6 to 8. Our performances on stage are student-led and the choreography for each song is made up by the members during rehearsal.”
After the choirs, the final group to perform was the String Orchestra, and they sounded fantastic. Comprised of members from middle and upper school, the group performed a “Klezmer Hanukah”—an original composition of the group’s conductor—Scottish Christmas carol “Suantraí,” and “Winter” from Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons.”
Fifth Former Martin Okonkwo recently joined the Orchestra and plays the cello. He remarked, “I’ve had some difficulties in orchestra, but the rest of the guys are supportive and help me out. This goes to show what a brotherhood Haverford is.”
The Orchestra had a stunning performance under the new leadership of Mr. Brown. The crowd was blown away by the soloists in Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Fifth Former Ian Rosenzweig and Fourth Former Brooks Brewington captivated the crowd with their violin skills. Third Former Matthew Lo had a wonderful cello solo on the second movement of “Winter.”
“It was wonderful to see so many boys shining in so many different ways.”
Performing Arts Department Chair Mr. Darren Hengst
Overall, Mr. Hengst was thrilled with the concert. He thought the ensembles were excellent under new leadership and work ethic.
Mr. Hengst regaled, “It was wonderful to see so many boys shining in so many different ways”.
He was especially inspired by the brotherhood within the arts community at Haverford.
“One thing that was great—well wasn’t great—was that we had some injuries to our musicians. I believe three of them were out and couldn’t perform.” Mr. Hengst said. “The way that their brothers stepped in and picked up for them shows how much the boys care about each other and the program, how talented they are that they can switch instruments to pick up when someone is out.”
