The CHS music department held its annual Christmas concert on Monday, December 15, and it was definitely one for the books. The 2025 concert happened to be Mr. Colonel’s last Christmas concert, as he will be retiring at the end of the school year. Emotions were high as the goodbyes were said and it is a memory you will never forget.
Mr. Colonel had three groups perform at the concert: the concert choir, swing choir, and the concert band. Each group varied in the number of songs they performed, but all did it with heart and confidence.
The first group to perform was the swing choir. They started their section with “North Pole Rock And Roll,” which included a solo by senior baritone Jason Sibley. They followed it up with their version of Jennifer Hudson’s “Let There Be Joy.” Swing choir ended their portion with “Christmas Dance,” which included a dance entirely made by junior Grace Kirkpatrick and senior Emily Gruenewald.
Next up the concert choir performed. Their portion began with “Looking For The Light,” which included two soprano solos: a beginning one from senior Megan Zimmer, and a middle one from sophomore Caitlyn Hargis. They performed three other songs that included “For Unto Us A Child Is Born,” “The Little Drummer Boy,” and “A One-Horse Open Sleigh (In A Jingly Minor Way).
Mr. Colonel then took a break from directing the choirs to collect donations for the Chester food pantry. He sent a handful of seniors to gather cash from participation audience members.
Then before Mr. Colonel could start with the band, senior students Addy Gottschammer, Erin Liefer, and Natalie Guetersloh all presented Mr. Colonel with his Christmas present from the band. He was gifted a framed photo from the band’s Alumni Night at a basketball game and tickets to see The Phantom Of The Opera at The Fox in St. Louis.
Lastly, the band opened with “Dashing Through The Snow,” which was then followed up by “Sparkling Lights,” and “A Mad Russian’s Christmas.” Then the band ended with the song they play every year, “Sleigh Ride,” which included a trumpet solo by junior Kendall Nanney.
As the night concluded, family and friends were welcomed onto the gym floor to take photos in front of the balloon arch made by Melody Colonel. This also allowed people to say goodbye, and appreciate the last Christmas concert that will be directed by Mr. Colonel. Thank you for all of the work and wonderful memories you have contributed to in the last 31 years of your career.
