Christmas Concert Lit Up Holiday Season

12/17/2009
With a wide-ranging program of popular, classical and seasonal favorites, the Seton Hall Prep Band, Brass Ensemble and A Cappella Chorus kicked off the holiday season in fine fashion before a packed Giblin Auditorium on the evening of December 16.

More than 130 players manned the stage for the Band's renditions of pieces ranging from Westward Ho, The Emerald Isle and Carry on Wayward Son, to the West Indian carol Mary Had a Baby Boy, I'll Be Home for Christmas, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

The A Cappella Chorus, most recently dubbed the "C-Tonians," added their own bit of spice to the festivities, with their versions of Behold That Star, Ave Maris Stella and Santa Claus is Coming to Town. They closed with a high-jinx-filled rendition of We Wish You a Merry Christmas.

Making their inaugural appearance in a Christmas Concert were the members of the Brass Ensemble. The group had actually made its public debut a few days earlier at the evening open-air Christmas Tree Lighting at the West Orange Public Square— on the coldest night of the year. They brought the holiday atmosphere alive with several pieces, including O Come Emmanuel; O Come, All Ye Faithful; Hark! The Herald Angels Sing; Joy to the World; and The Twelve Days of Christmas.

The Band and Brass Ensemble are under the direction of Fine and Performing Arts Chairman Joseph Neglia and the C-Tonians are led by Theresa Neglia.