News
Candlelight Winter Concert 2024
To accentuate the spirit that comes with the holiday season, Vermont Academy puts on the annual Candlelight Winter Concert, which features festive readings presented by students and faculty, along with performances from the Dance Team and the Vocal, Chamber, and Jazz Ensembles. In attendance was the entire Vermont Academy community, family, and friends, who came out to support the student performers and relish in the joyous holiday season in the Nita Choukas Theater in Horowitz Performing Arts Hall.
To start the night off, Senior Associate Director of Admissions and Advancement Dave Hodgson ’89, P ’21, ’25 shared the reading “Let Peace Prevail in this World” by Ravi Sathasivam.
VA’s Chamber Ensemble took their seats to play five festive songs, which included a mix of Hanukkah and Christmas pieces. They performed, “Shalom Alachem,” arranged by Performing Arts Department Chair Steve Cady, “Hevenu Shalom Alachem,” arranged by Mr. Cady, “Tallis’ Cannon,” by Tomas Tallis, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” arranged by Donald Mathews, and “Al Hanisim,” arranged by Mr. Cady.
Microphones replaced chairs and music stands as the VA Vocal Ensemble took their spots on stage to sing “Tempus Vern,” arranged by Vocal Ensemble Director Gwenn Curtis, and “When Christmas Comes to Town,” arranged by Ms. Curtis.
Darlene Tashobya ’25 came to the podium as the vocalists left the stage to present her reading of “No One is Alone” by Stephen Sondheim.
Next to the stage was the Vermont Academy Dance Team with a routine choreographed by Dance Team Coach Lindsey Fitzgerald to “Last Christmas,” which featured themes of heartbreak and finding one’s own light.
After the dancers took their bow, Director of Advancement Tonia Fleming P ’18 shared selections from aseasonal reading titled “A Child’s Christmas in Wales” by Dylan Thomas.
The Vermont Academy Jazz Ensemble followed Ms. Fleming with three pieces that included “Go Rest Ye Merry Jazz People,” arranged by Mr. Cady, “Somewhere Out There,” arranged by John Berry, and “Mercy Mercy Mercy,” by Joe Zawinul. Once they wrapped up that final piece, the Chamber Ensemble returned to the stage alongside the Jazz Ensemble to perform “Hope Prayer,” by Sean Sanby and arranged by Mr. Cady.
To lead the audience into the final portion of the concert, Head of School Dr. Jennifer L. Zaccara eloquently read the poem “Hope is the Thing With Feathers” by Emily Dickinson. Just before she left the podium, she presented the combined Vocal, Jazz, and Chamber Ensembles to close out the night.
The combined ensembles first performed “The Vermont Academy Evening Song” by Dorothy Hall Leavitt and Gilbert Parker, arranged by Mr. Cady, and invited the audience to participate. The finale of the concert was “Winter Wonderland,” arranged by Mr. Cady, and also included audience participation, becoming a joyous way to end a night of community and togetherness this holiday season.
Vermont Academy Chamber Ensemble
Mr. Steve Cady, Director
Asper Donath ’26
Taylor Gleeson ’25
Ana Hernandez-Merkle ’25
Suki Lambert ’25
Alexander Linnenbringer ’26
Caitlin Masure ’25,
Catherine Min ’27
Luke Pennell ’26
Morgan Studin ’25
Vermont Academy Vocal Ensemble
Ms. Gwenn Curtis, Director
Yehoon Allen ’28
Nik Dunbar ’27
Raymond Feng ’25
Ryan Guo ’28
Suki Lambert ’25
Sara Martínez Mateos ’26
Caitlin Masure ’25
Catherine Min ’27
Casey Rhodes ’27
Maya Sbardellati ’25
Morgan Studin ’25
Angela Shi ’28 - Accompanist
Vermont Academy Dance Team
Ms. Lindsey Fitzgerald, Coach and Choreographer
Ruby Besson ’25
Maya Carbone ’27
Katie Edwards ’25,
Daniela González Bonet ’25
Sara Martínez Mateos ’26
Tammy Pattayakorn ’26
Gabriela Romero Bermúdez ’26
Morgan Studin ’25
Kennedy Taylor ’26
Alexa Valderrama Ledezma ’25
Featuring John Velto ’25
Vermont Academy Jazz Ensemble
Mr. Steve Cady, Director
Elliott Carr ’28
Eric Chen ’27
Asper Donath ’26
Ana Hernandez-Merkle ’25
Charlie Hodgson ’25
Aly Lantz ’25
Alexander Linnenbringer ’26
Caitlin Masure ’25
Evie Meyer ’28
Oliver Norkun ’26
Marley Odell ’26
Luke Pennell ’26
Darien Rainey ’27
Jacob Studin ’28
Morgan Studin ’25
Oliver Walsh-Fischetti ’25
Technical Team
Mr. Jonathan Barron ’96, Theater Arts Director
Lighting Design - Andy Darcy ’25, Asper Donath ’26, Nik Dunbar ’27, Jonathan Barron ’96
Light Board Operator - Andy Darcy ’25
Sound Board Operator - Case Siegel ’25
Scenic Preparations - Jonathan Barron ’96, Afternoon Theater Tech
Vermont Academy is a coed college preparatory boarding and day school in southern Vermont, serving grades 9-12 plus a postgraduate year.
