Christmas performances

Christmas Classic: Saturday, December 14

Miriam competed in five syllabus events: swing, tango, Viennese waltz, rumba and cha cha at this annual competition at Madison Junior High (still the worst-ever venue). She placed in every event except swing (which is hard to place in because everyone, their dogs and their Tamagotchis compete in that event). It was a long day (as always), but a rewarding one. 

Miriam (and her fabulous hair and makeup) before the junior events begin.

Dancing swing with Makio.

Dancing Viennese with Dallin.

Dancing tango with Dallin.

Choir concert: Monday, December 16

Ana sings "Nativity Carol" with the Bonnevaires. I thought it was cool that we could see Ana's face in Mrs. Nix's tablet. Ana didn't like it.

Ana sings "Last Christmas" with her octet during the show.

Singing "Twelve Days of Christmas" with all the choirs and the audience ... with actions! This was "five golden rings."

Band concert: Wednesday, December 18

Miriam playing the glockenspiel with the jazz band during "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." She had a lovely little feature when everyone else went silent and she played the notes for the line "won't you guide my sleigh tonight." The day before, the band students spent the entire day traveling to assisted living facilities and playing Christmas music for the residents.

Miriam plays bongos during "Have a Mambo Christmas." She played percussion in every single song of the concert: for percussion ensemble, jazz band, concert band and symphonic band.

Lincoln Court: Sunday, December 22

Miriam plays a modified drum set during our performance at Lincoln Court. We didn't play music at the facility last year due to all our family's surgeries scheduled before and immediately following Christmas: my rotator cuff surgery, Rebekah's breast reduction, Ana's wisdom teeth removal. But we came back in full force for Christmas 2024. This was the first time we had any percussion with our music, and it turned out to be fabulous.

Seth and Andrea playing uke/guitar and singing with residents in the background enjoying their dinner and (hopefully?) the music.

Ana singing during our show. This was a new addition as well. In the past, we've had duos or groups of us all sing together, but Ana with her newfound love of choir asked if she could sing along to a bunch of songs I've played before from the Reader's Digest Christmas Songbook. This was another great addition to our lineup. Her favorite one to sing was "Blue Christmas."

Winnie and Andrea playing a piano duet.

The five of us singing "Angels We Have Heard on High" a capella. Winnie and Miriam sang the soprano part; I sang alto; Ana sang tenor; Seth sang bass.