Dartmouth High School pops off in annual Pops Concert

Some may ask that Christmas not be late, but Christmas came early at the Dartmouth High School held their annual Holiday Pops Concert on Wednesday, Dec. 22. 

“[The concert was] absolutely fantastic as always,” said school committee member John Nunes, “I think it’s important … for the students to showcase what they’ve done, what they’ve learned, the first half of the school year and to show to the public and their parents what the program is all about.”

During the show, Rachel Hudson, the chairman of the scholarship committee, announced that James Kiely was this year's Honoree for his support of the music and arts at the schools. 

Nunes also announced the Dartmouth Schools Music Association received a $10,000 donation from the Amaral family from Jim Tires to support the program. 

The band, chorus and orchestra each performed a number of songs.

The orchestra opened the show with a song inspired by a “Christmas Carol” called “Fiddle Like the Dickens” and continued with “A Solitary Wish,” which reflects on loneliness and homelessness during the holidays. They closed the show with “Wizards in Winter” by the Trans Siberian Orchestra. 

Because of the song “A Solitary Wish” the orchestra raised $866 to support Helping Hands, an organization that assists families in the Dartmouth schools.

One orchestra student, Izzy Batista, composed a medley from the movie “Frozen” in memory of her father as they would watch the movie together when she was home sick.

The chorus sang a number of songs with a live band backing them. They sang a jazzy rendition of “Frosty the Snowman,” “Over the Sea and Skye” and “Riversong.” Both the sopranos and baritones performed parts in each song. 

The concert band opened with a piece in memory of Amelia Earhart with Indigenous inspiration, called “Earhart.” They also played a take on “Deck the Halls” called “Fantasy on Deck the Halls” and “El Camino Real.” The percussion section performed “Christmas Time is Here.”

“I’m a senior so this is so emotional for me, I’ve been with the orchestra for eight years now and I’m the co-president, so I have a lot of memories and just the environment and the friendliness and the closeness of everyone, it’s just a tight knit group, it’s so special to me,” said Clara Gelinas. Her favorite to perform was “Fiddle Like the Dickens.”

Students started practicing for the concert at the beginning of the school year, but received the songs at the end of the last school year. 

“Thank you for allowing your students to be in a space where dreams come true," Hudson said.