The holiday season is upon us, and the musical talents of Rhode Island school musicians will be showcased as part of a month-long musical celebration of the holidays during the month of December.
"We're pleased to be continuing this holiday tradition of student performances at the Rhode Island State House," said Randall Rosenbaum, Executive Director of the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts. "Close to 3,000 student musicians from fifty-four schools throughout the state will perform at the Rhode Island State House in a special series of musical performances." The concert series starts on Monday, December 1st and runs through Friday, December 19th.
All concerts are free and open to the public.
The concert series, organized by the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, will feature music of the season, performed by students from schools throughout the State of Rhode Island. The performances are all in the Rhode Island State House.
A one page holiday concert flyer can be found at http://www.arts.ri.gov/holiday
The list below is arranged by city/town. For a video that provides a glimpse of the holiday concert season at the Rhode Island State House, see an excerpt of the 2013 performance of the combined choirs of McCourt Middle School and North Cumberland Middle School in Cumberland at http://www.arts.ri.gov/holiday-video
About the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts
The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts is a state agency supported by appropriations from the Rhode Island General Assembly and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. RISCA provides grants, technical assistance and staff support to arts organizations and artists, schools, community centers, social service organizations and local governments to bring the arts into the lives of Rhode Islanders.
List of Holiday Concerts - Arranged by City/Town
BARRINGTON
Tuesday, December 2 at 9:30am, Primrose Hill Third Grade Chorus from Barrington, under the direction of David Lauria Wednesday, December 10 at 10:30am, Nayatt School 3rd Grade Chorus from Barrington, under the direction of Karen DeWitt Tuesday, December 16 at 11:30am, Barrington Middle School Jazz Band from Barrington, under the direction of Dail Bienkiewicz Tuesday, December 16 at 11:30am, Barrington Middle School 8th Grade Chorus from Barrington, under the direction of Kerri Thurber Wednesday, December 17 at 11:30am, Sowams School Third Grade Chorus from Barrington, under the direction of Mark Vadnais
BLOCK ISLAND
Thursday, December 18 at 11:30am, Island Sound from Block Island, under the direction of Megan Hennessy
CENTRAL FALLS
Friday, December 12 at 9:30am, Segue Square Mile Singers from Central Falls, under the direction of Matthew Gringras
CHARIHO SCHOOL DISTRICT
Friday, December 19 at 9:30am, Ashaway Elementary School Chorus from Ashaway, under the direction of Michael Zielski Tuesday, December 9 at 10:30am, Chariho Middle School 7th & 8th Grade Chorus from Wood River Junction, under the direction of Lynn Dowding
CRANSTON
Monday, December 8 at 11:30am, Cranston West Jazz Combo from Cranston, under the direction of Arthur Montanaro Wednesday, December 10 at 11:30am, Cranston High School West Orchestra from Cranston, under the direction of Christine Harrington
CUMBERLAND
Monday, December 1 at 9:30am, Combined Choruses of North Cumberland and McCourt Middle School from Cumberland, under the direction of Shannon Davis and Thomas Alger Monday, December 8 at 10:30am, Cumberland High School Clef Singers from Cumberland, under the direction of Janita Ducharme Tuesday, December 16 at 9am, Blackstone Valley Prep Musicians from Cumberland, under the direction of Raffi Rachdouni Tuesday, December 16 at 9:30am, Blackstone Valley Prep Allegro Strings from Cumberland, under the direction of Piera Leone
EAST GREENWICH
Wednesday, December 3 at 10:30am, Cole Middle School Music Department from East Greenwich, under the direction of Megan Catelli
EAST PROVIDENCE
Wednesday, December 3 at 11:30am, St. Mary Academy-Bay View Orchestra from Riverside, under the direction of Stephanie Isidoro Thursday, December 4 at 11:30am, Riverside Middle School Concert Band from East Providence, under the direction of Mark Maguire Friday, December 12 at 11:30am, Martin Middle School Concert Choir from East Providence, under the direction of Robert Rappa Monday, December 15 at 10:30am, Riverside Middle School 7th & 8th grade chorus from Riverside, under the direction of John Baldaia Friday, December 19 at 11:30am, East Providence High School Wind Ensemble from East Providence, under the direction of Marisa Martinez and the East Providence High School Concert Choir from East Providence, under the direction of Maryann Lasorsa
FOSTER – GLOCESTER SCHOOL DISTRICT
Monday, December 1 at 11:30am, Clayville Elementary Chorus from Clayville, under the direction of Charlotte Ethier Friday, December 12 at 12 noon, Ponaganset Chamber Chorus from Foster-Glocester, under the direction of Derek Sabatini
JAMESTOWN
Monday, December 15 at 9:30am, Jamestown School Jazz Band & Chorus from Jamestown, under the direction of Karyn Kauffman
JOHNSTON
Friday, December 19 at 10:30am, Ferri Middle School Select Band and Select Chorus from Johnston, under the direction of Tom Conlon (chorus) and Pat Aubin (band)
LINCOLN
Monday, December 8 at 9:30am, Lincoln High School Choir from Lincoln, under the direction of Brandon Lahoud
LITTLE COMPTON
Thursday, December 18 at 9:30am, Wilbur/McMahon Schools Chorus from Little Compton, under the direction of B.J. Whitehouse
NARRAGANSETT
Tuesday, December 9 at 9:30am, Narragansett Pier Middle School 7th & 8th Grade Chorus from Narragansett, under the direction of Michael Simeone with the Narragansett High School Chorus from Narragansett, under the direction of Sarah Kane
NORTH KINGSTOWN
Thursday, December 4 at 10:30am, Davisville Middle School Jazz, Strings and Chorus from North Kingstown, under the direction of Brenda Young
PAWTUCKET
Tuesday, December 2 at 11:30am, JMW Chorus from Pawtucket, under the direction of Scott Beauregard Thursday, December 4 at 9:30am, Shea High School Glee Club from Pawtucket, under the direction of Anne Lagace Monday, December 15 at 11:30am, Nathanael Greene Elementary 6th Grade Band Ensemble from Pawtucket, under the direction of Carminda Mahajan
PORTSMOUTH
Friday, December 12 at 10:30am, Portsmouth High School Concert Choir from Portsmouth, under the direction of Gael Berberick
PROVIDENCE
Tuesday, December 2 at 10:30am, Robert L. Bailey Chorus from Providence, under the direction of Cathleen Markovitz Friday, December 5 at 9:30am, Paul Cuffee School 5th Grade Chorus from Providence, under the direction of Frances Candelario Friday, December 5 at 10:30am, Carnevale Elementary School Chorus with the DelSesto Middle School Chorus from Providence, under the direction of Robert Maher Friday, December 5 at 11:30am, Mount Pleasant High School Winter Chorus from Providence, under the direction of Danielle Lucini Wednesday, December 17 at 10:30am, Feinstein Elementary School Bell Choir/Advanced Guitar Ensemble from Providence, under the direction of Wayne Kilcline
SCITUATE
Wednesday, December 3 at 9:30am, North Scituate Elementary Chorus from North Scituate, under the direction of Charlotte Ethier Tuesday, December 16 at 10:30am, Hope Elementary Chorus from Hope, under the direction of Charlotte Ethier
SMITHFIELD
Thursday, December 11 at 10:00am, Smithfield High School Concert Band from Smithfield, under the direction of Kelly Chartier Thursday, December 11 at 10:30am, Smithfield High School Chorus from Smithfield, under the direction of Katherine Young
SOUTH KINGSTOWN
Tuesday, December 9 at 11:30am, Peace Dale Elementary Chorus from PeaceDale, under the direction of Christine Pierce Wednesday, December 17 at 9:30am, Vivace from Curtis Corner Middle School from Wakefield, under the direction of Laurette Vitello
WARWICK
Monday, December 1 at 10:30am, Toll Gate High School Jazz Band from Warwick, under the direction of Nicholas Reed Wednesday, December 10 at 9:30am, Holden Elementary School Chorus and the Hoxsie Elementary School Chorus from Warwick, under the direction of Antonio Grelle
WEST GREENWICH
Friday, December 12 at 11am, Exeter/West Greenwich Senior High Chorus from West Greenwich, under the direction of Ronald Runner
WOONSOCKET
Thursday, December 11 at 11:30am, Harris Elementary School Singers from Woonsocket, under the direction of Kimberly Picard Thursday, December 18 at 10:30am, Woonsocket Middle School Chorus from Woonsocket, under the direction of John Burns