Christmas concerts and performances

Rebekah: IFSYO, December 1

Rebekah is participating in the Idaho Falls Symphony's Youth Orchestra for the fourth year in a row, third year as principal trombone. They had their winter concert on Thursday, December 1, and we went to watch/listen/support.

She's the short one in the middle, back row. 

Grovers: Ward party, December 2

I'm just gonna throw this one in here. :-) We had our ward party on Friday, December 2, and the Young Women sang a musical number, followed by the Primary acting out the nativity and singing. That falls under the category of "Christmas concerts," right?

Rebekah sings alto with Ashlyn Mickelsen and Callie Olaveson. 

Ana sings soprano with Sarah Bird, Emelia Bare and Edison Bare.

Miriam sings with Kimberly Cramer, Ashalen Olaveson, Tynlei Crittenden and Teya McGarry.

Seth reads a picture book to help narrate the Primary's nativity..

Winnie sings with the other angels in the nativity.

Ana and Miriam: Christmas Classic, December 3

Ana competed at the Christmas Classic for the second time; Miriam for the first. It was still held at Madison Junior High, which begged the question, "Why?! Why try to shove the parents, grandparents and siblings of SO. MANY. KIDS. In one tiny, sweltering gym. For hours." 

We managed to survive, and both of the girls did well. Miriam earned four ribbons. Ana didn't earn any this time, but she's in an older, more experienced group, and they hand out far fewer ribbons.

Ana cheering for a friend..

Miriam performing with her partner.

Ana with her partner. Miriam switched partners for every style of dance. Ana stayed with hers (Dallin Wright) for all the styles.

Miriam in line waiting to hear what place she received.

Ana and Dallin dancing.

Miriam with another partner.

Rebekah: Tuba Christmas, December 3

This was Rebekah's fourth year participating in the area Tuba Christmas at BYU-Idaho. She watched the first part of the Christmas Classic, then got dropped off at the Snow building so she could rehearse for a few hours. We met back up with her when the other girls were finished with their dancing so we could watch the performance in the Manwaring Center.

Rebekah playing her euphonium while the conductor leads us in singing.

Rebekah and her decorated hat and euphonium.

Rebekah (second from left) performing with a quartet. She happened to be walking by when Bro. Moore, the head of the tuba department at BYU-Idaho, was looking for a fourth participant. So Rebekah joined the high school band director, college professor and former military band leader in their quartet.

Ana, Miriam and Winnie (foreground) while Rebekah stands between songs.

Rebekah and Seth after the performance.

Grandma Hendricks with Rebekah following the performance. We picked her up so she could enjoy it as well.

Rebekah: BHS bands, December 15

Rebekah got to travel to four assisted living facilities in the area and perform with the BHS bands for the residents. I tagged along to two of those performances so I could hear and take some pictures.

Rebekah playing trombone with the jazz band.

Percussion ensemble performing "Boom Crackers."

Rebekah's pose at the end of "Boom Crackers" at the second home. I went to the wrong "The Gables," so I didn't get to see her perform with all the bands at this one, but I did get to see percussion ensemble.

Rebekah, Seth and Kent: Eastern Idaho Jazz Society, December 20

Although the EIJS holds jam sessions every month, Rebekah hasn't been to one since the last time she played with Kent a few years ago. (They're on Tuesday evenings, and Rebekah is either at her youth activity or a Big Jazz House Band rehearsal those days.) With Kent and his family in town for the first time in years and after their big move from Italy, Rebekah was eager to play with him again. Seth also tagged along to the jam at Pachanga's.

Kent reported to Seth that he was not as good as Rebekah is as a senior in high school. High praise from a man whose career is in music.

Seth on guitar, Rebekah on trombone, Kent on sax. They also had a bassist and drummer playing with them.

Rebekah reacting to Kent's solo.

Rebekah soloing with another group later on in the evening while Kent watches.

Grovers: Lincoln Court, December 23

Christmas time means Christmas music at Lincoln Court. We prepared a set list that included piano solos, piano duets, piano accompaniment, trombone, euphonium, guitar and ukulele and tried to keep the volume low enough that the residents could still talk and enjoy dinner. (That was the only explicit instruction we were given.) That was pretty easy with everything but the euphonium. 

After our two hours of playing, we took the girl to dinner at Pizza Pie Cafe, and then Seth and I made a return trip to get the purse I left on a chair.

Winnie playing one of her piano songs.

Ana and Rebekah playing "Silent Night."

Miriam playing one of her piano songs.

Seth playing guitar and singing.

Ana crocheting and Miriam listening while their sisters perform.

Rebekah playing trombone.

Rebekah playing along with a backing track. The cord connecting Rebekah's phone to the amp had a short in it, so Seth had to hold it at exactly the right angle. I had to manually fade out the backing track when Rebekah was finished.

Rebekah playing euphonium (with the bell turned backward to try and quiet it down) while Andrea acccompanies.

Andrea and Seth playing and singing.