Annual Christmas Concert Rings in the Holiday Season

West Roxbury, Mass.-- Sometimes, holiday magic sneaks up on you when you least expect it.

As freshman Garret Smith masterfully strummed his sixteen-measure solo, one couldn’t help but smile as the whole Ronald Perry Gymnasium clapped in unison. They cheered on his remarkable performance at a longstanding Catholic Memorial School tradition: the Christmas Concert.

Last Wednesday, the annual event was as spirited and festive as ever. Performances by the Honors Ensemble, Eighth Grade Chorus, Baker Street Boys, and CM Chorale represented months of hard work by both students and teachers alike. All four of the school's music groups sang and played a total of 13 arrangements, each to thunderous applause.

"The Baker Street Boys had a blast performing in their first ever Christmas Concert,” said Mr. John Steichen, the faculty leader of the Baker Street Boys.

“Singing 'Carol of the Bells' brought joy to their hearts as they ushered in the Christmas spirit here at Catholic Memorial.”

Underneath new leadership, the concert went in a different direction than previous years. Instead of playing strictly seasonal songs, the new music leadership team consisting of Mr. Yaure Muniz, Mr. Steichen, and Dr. Michael Monroe opted for a different route. Tunes like “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” and “Feliz Navidad” were juxtaposed with “Don’t You Worry ‘bout a Thing” and “I Want It That Way.”

The result? A euphonious blend of traditional Christmas fodder and catchy modern hits.

“The concert was a great stress reliever with midterms approaching,” said senior Brendan Julian.

“It was an opportunity to showcase all the hard work The Baker Street Boys, Choral, and Honors Band have put in before and after school throughout this school year. It was really fun to perform and a great night overall.”

Parents of performing students made their support noticed. Few empty seats remained in the gymnasium before the show’s opening piece. Of course, those who attended the concert took photos of their children’s performance and offered applause for their fellow community members.

The show featured a special monologue performed by Mr. Thomas Beatty ‘68. Mr. Beatty, CM’s principal, read ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ in between musical performances. His reading of the timeless story left students and parents alike in the Christmas spirit.

“Mr. Beatty’s reading really made the evening special,” said senior Jacob Azzi, who performed with the Baker Street Boys.

“He did a great job of ending the concert on such a festive note.”