Del Mar’s performing arts department hosted its annual “Winter Celebration” on Dec. 12, 2024. The event included performances by the sax ensemble, concert choir, concert band, and more, showcasing Christmas and holiday songs.
This year’s concert choir performed songs such as ‘Carol From an Irish Cabin’ and ‘Jingle Bells.’ As they began to sing “I Want To Stare At My Phone With You (A Millennial Christmas),” students walked on stage on their phones, taking selfies, showing each other stuff on their devices, and texting.
Rayjen Cymon Cruz, a choir student, said, “When I was on stage with my friends, I really enjoyed seeing the people, families, and friends that came to watch us perform. It made me feel more confident, and I hope that it has made my peers feel that way too.” Cruz’s favorite piece to perform was “I Want to Stare at My Phone With You” because it was the most enjoyable to sing.
The symphonic and concert bands performed pieces like “Christmas Through the Looking Glass” and “Christmas Toons.” During the concert band performance, William Burkhead, the performing arts chair, narrated a story that goes along with the piece, “Son of Santa the Barbarian,” about Santa the Barbarian and his son, Nicholas, at odds with each other.
Serena Gannon, a former choir student, said “I thought they did really fabulous. I thought the songs were really cute, and I thought they were really good performance wise.” Gannon’s favorite piece of choir was “I Want To Stare At My Phone With You” because she found it relatable and cute.
This year’s Winter Celebration offered a unique performance by the sax ensemble, concert choir, concert band, and more, showcasing Christmas and holiday songs for December.
