Berkeley students sing and sparkle for holidays

In the days leading up to Christmas, several hundred students throughout the Berkeley County School District are putting the final touches on winter performances.

Kathy Clark, performing arts coordinator for Berkeley County schools, recently released the district's performing arts calendar, which began Dec. 3 with performances at Westview Primary School, Stratford High School and Berkeley Intermediate.

The calendar of events runs through Dec. 20. It is comprised largely of musical events with a few dance and drama programs tossed in for good measure. All are free.

Several schools are slated to give performances today.

Students in Timberland High School's concert band and chorus are fine-tuning their joint concert, which will be 6 p.m. at Timberland.

"I look forward to the concert," said Tim Evans, director of bands at Timberland. "It's a good way to end the year before Christmas."

The concert band performance will include time-honored Christmas standards such as "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year."

Timberland Chorus instructor Michele Proveaux will lead the 23-member choir in performances of "Carol of the Bells" and "Joyful, Joyful" from the movie "Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit."

They both urge family members and friends to support the band and chorus performance.

"They feel the support from the community and it encourages them to do well," Evans said. "It's important for community to support the arts programs."

At Goose Creek High School, the concert band will perform pieces by the Australian-born composer Percy Grainger.

"I wanted to educate my children about this composer," said Jenny Collins, the school's director of bands. "I love the music and it's been a lot of fun. The music is challenging."

A highlight of Goose Creek's 6 p.m. Winter Concert will be a solo performance by Bradley Powers. Powers, 18, will perform a piece on trombone by 19th-century composer Ferdinand David.

This has been an especially trying year for Stratford High School Band Director Edna Grace. Earlier this year, her mother and father died a month apart.

She also received a diagnosis of breast cancer and underwent surgery.

Despite her personal trials, she's looking forward to leading Stratford's concert band in its 7 p.m. performance in the high school's auditorium.

"If nothing else, (Christmas) is a time where you can put aside difficulty and hardships and enjoy the company and friendship of family and friends," said Grace, who is assisted by Lee Ann Moore.

Clark hopes parents and community members will show their support in forthcoming performances.

"We want the public to realize the variety of things we're doing in the school," Clark said. "Music is really the thread that's woven through the fabric of all of our lives. And it's no more evident than at Christmas."

These public performances help broaden a student's understanding of the world outside the classroom and instill in them a sense of community, Clark said.

"I think it gives them a sense of worth. ... They feel like they are making a difference and brightening someone's day," she said. "It gives them a sense of belonging that they are a part of a bigger picture. It really tightens the sense of community."