Once again the Christmas Spectacular was just that, spectacular. The various premier groups of the Music Department showed off their Christmas season programs on Sunday, December 11. This included performances by the Madrigal Singers, Chamber Orchestra, Wind Ensemble and Jazz Combo, with other fun surprises in between such as a number done by a group of recorder players.

The Christmas Spectacular is, as in the words of Madrigal Frank Gomulka (‘18), “a performance of all the premier groups of the Music Department showing their programs for [the] Christmas season. It’s the most diverse concert Benet offers because it includes all types of music groups that Benet offers to students. The Spectacular is truly spectacular as it engages the audience into the spirit of Christmas, [while] showcasing some beautiful, fun, and sometimes even silly music.”

The music ranged from cool arrangements of well-known songs to the classic Christmas carols of the season to some rather silly versions of songs (according to Gomulka, the Madrigals have a fondness for silly music).

The Madrigals sang “Straight No Chaser’s Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer” and a type of adaptation of “The Sugar Plum Fairy” from the holiday classic “The Nutcracker.” The Wind Ensemble played “The Gum-Suckers March”, “George Washington Bridge” and “Emmanuel Variants” then joined the Orchestra in playing the song “Sleigh Ride.”
In addition, Madrigal Frank Gomulka had a solo during this year’s Christmas Spectacular. The song was from George Handel’s “MESSIAH.” Frank commented, “Though a bit nerve-racking at first, it’s so fantastic to be able to showcase the knowledge I’ve gained in the classroom to a live audience who responds to me, and it was an interesting experience to learn and perform such a classic, well-known piece of music.”

The Music Department worked hard for this concert as it is the last concert for everyone, except the Madrigals, before Christmas break. It’s an exciting concert for family, friends, audience members and musicians. It’s one of the few times that all the groups that Benet offers come together to play and display the wide variety of music.

Everyone needed to work together to make this concert spectacular so it can live up to its name. Their teamwork in the Music Department to put this together showed the unity there is and the musicians’ passions for their craft. Gomulka cemented the Christmas Spectacular spirit stating “It’s a beautiful performance. The spectacular just added even more to the Christmas spirit around Benet during this time of year.”