Wednesday Dec 10th marked the long awaited Convent and Stuart Hall Winter Performing Arts Concert. Taking place in Syufy Theater, the concert included performances from the C&SH dance teams, vocal music ensemble, and both student bands. As the culmination of several months of work and preparation made in the first semester of this year, the concert showcased the growth and talent of many student performers here at the school.
“I feel like the concert was really great,” freshman Chloe Reeder said, who performed as a vocalist and dancer. “I feel like we prepared really well and we had really strong altos, sopranos and baritones,”
The concert began with two performances from the middle school dance teams. First was a duo performance from Dance 102 choreographed by Tricia Cronin, followed by a performance from junior varsity dance choreographed by Roberto Parris. After this, there were two more spectacular performances from the high school’s 7 person varsity dance team, choreographed by both Cronin and Parris. 2025 has been the first year that C&SH high school has had an official dance team, and this concert (as well as additional performances on Halloween and other occasions) was a wonderful debut to this new addition to the school.
Next, the vocal ensemble began their segment of the concert with Carol of the Bells. Sung a cappella (without accompaniment), it was the first of four total songs the class sang, all conducted by Phillip Harris. The ensemble is split up into three vocal parts, and select students were also chosen to perform as soloists before and during the last two songs. Similarly to dance, the vocal program at the school has grown much larger this year than it ever has in the past, with 27 students from both Convent and Stuart Hall.
“To me, the expansion [of the performing arts program], it means life. It means that there’s opportunity for new things to happen,” performing arts chair and vocal music teacher Phillip Harris said. “ It means that there’s opportunity for growth. It means that there is a commitment to not just a community, but to the performing arts and the life that that brings to us. So it means a lot to me.”
Finally to end the night, the two instrumental ensembles performed a total of ten songs on a variety of instruments. Because of the popularity of the course, the group was split into two band classes, each with a unique sound. Conducted and taught by Matt Renzi, students played many instruments from guitar, to trumpet, to piano. Along with many soloists who performed as part of other songs, two students also performed an original song written by Stuart Hall student Alex Stecker titled “I Remember When”.
“Music is such a cool experience,” freshman Leah Murphy said, who played the violin as part of the concert. “We get to be creative and play the music we love.”
As the first performing arts showcase of the year, the concert was an amazing opportunity to see what art and culture the school has to offer. Additionally, there will be many more opportunities to see performances in action all throughout the year. On April 27th, the C&SH Spring Performing Arts Concert will be held in the Little Theater. There is also an opportunity to see more music and dance in the form of this year’s musical, Legally Blonde, on Jan 29th and 30th.
“I feel like all together, we were very strong and we had very good vocalists overall,” Reeder said. “So I feel like that made it a lot better.”
