Searcy(LP) The Searcy High School Choir had their annual Christmas concert on December 8th, featuring the groups 9/10 men, 9/10 women, Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, and Voix de Belles, led by SHS Choir Director Tina Niederbrach, along with audience included Christmas carols led by Mr. Jay Niederbrach, Mr. David Willard, and SHS Principal Claude Smith. The Students also performed 4 songs all together, 3 of which being songs performed annually by the choir.

In the beginning of the concert, 8 specially selected students stand on the stage while the rest file in the auditorium while singing Carol of the Bells, immediately followed by Dona Nobis Pachem. Then the groups split apart while Mr. Niederbrach led the choirs and the audience in Deck the Halls. After the song, the 9th and 10th grade men/women groups sang their selected songs, followed by Voix de Belles and Chamber Choir. In the middle of that, Mr. Willard led Oh Christmas Tree. Following Mr. Willard was the SHS Concert Choir, performing two Christmas numbers, followed by Mr. Smith leading Silent Night. During the Finale of the concert, the students come all together to sing Jingle Bells and We Wish You a Merry Christmas, during which the choir usually shoots off 4 confetti canons. Alto 2 Section Leader Abby Feather says, “Jingle Bells and We Wish You a Merry Christmas are my favorite part of the concert. The confetti makes everything 10 times cooler.”

Although the tradition is to shoot off 4 cannons, the choir had something special in store. A few weeks before, the choir started taking up money to go towards getting Mrs. Niederbrach a new refrigerator and microwave for her office because hers were not functioning correctly. The boys who were shooting off the cannons during the finale claimed to have misplaced one and only shot off three. At the end of the last song, sleigh bells begin to ring and Santa Clause appeared on the stage. He told Mrs. Niederbrach that her students told him that she was on the nice list this year and presented her with her gifts, while a choir member shot off the remaining confetti cannon and she was handed a bouquet of flowers. Mrs. Niederbrach says, “From the’young-un’ who had never experienced confetti cannons and movement to the fabulous Senior Class it was a wonderful memory. And SANTA came and surprised me with great treats!!!” The concert was a great showcase of the wonderful talent here at SHS.