MILLSTONE — The Millstone Township Middle School will present its annual holiday concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 16 in the Millstone Performing Arts Center at the school, 5 Dawson Ct. Admission is free and the public is welcome to attend.
The concert will feature almost 100 pupils in grades six through eight and showcase the talents of the members of the vocal chorus and instrumental band as they perform seasonal and holiday songs.
Preparations for the concert began in September. The pupils who will be performing arrived at school prior to homeroom and attended rehearsals twice a week.
Performing at the holiday concert will be three groups, one vocal and two instrumental: the sixth through eighth grade chorus, the sixth grade concert band, and the seventh and eighth grade wind ensemble.
The concert is coordinated by the middle school’s music instructors, Heather Philhower, who teaches general and vocal music, and Gwen Parker, who teaches instrumental music.
Parker, who has been teaching in Millstone for 27 years, said the holiday concert has been an annual event since before she joined the school faculty.
This year’s concert is being dedicated to Ellen Osborn, an applied technology teacher of 14 years and the co-adviser of the school choir, who died on Aug. 13.
“Ellen was a huge supporter of our music programs,” Parker said. “She participated in the faculty chorus for many years and was the assistant in the morning chorus rehearsals. She was a great friend to both Mrs. Philhower and myself and is missed a great deal.”
The Millstone Township Middle School also has a jazz ensemble which is comprised of students who are selected through an audition. While the jazz ensemble will not perform on Dec. 16, it will perform at the Jazz On the Town concert at Allentown High School on April 16 and at the Millstone Township Middle School spring concert on May 25.