The Winter Orchestra Concert

Christmas Instrumental Concert 

Virginia Fontana ('26)

As holiday spirits arise, Bishop O’Connell High School's Instrument Ensambles, a mix of violins, cellos, and basses from the Orchestra and saxophones, trumpets, and tuba in the Band, were tuning up for their Christmas Concert on  December 18th. The O’Connell Instrumental program features three ensembles, Orchestra, Jazz Band, Concert Band, and Symphonic Band. They have rehearsed songs with festive themes and tempos like A Charlie Brown Christmas (Orchestra) and Merry Christmas March (Band). 

Mr. Timothy LaCrosse, Orchestra Director, was interviewed via email, to ask him how he was feeling this holiday season and about the concert songs and performers. Joana Alves (‘26) also sat down with Mr. Ron Isaacson, Band Director, to ask similar questions.

How are you feeling this holiday season?

Mr. LaCrosse: This holiday season, I’m feeling incredibly grateful and excited. It’s always a joy to bring music to life during such a special time of year. The holiday season has a unique way of reminding us what’s truly important: family, friends, and community, and I’m honored to share that spirit through this concert. The rehearsals have been heartwarming, and there’s something magical about seeing our orchestra come together to create something beautiful for the audience. Overall, it’s a season of joy, reflection, and connection for me.

Mr. Isaacson: I would say grateful, for a few reasons, number one on my family’s side, my daughter had breast cancer a few years ago, so I'm grateful for that. I’ve been at O'Connell now, this is my ninth year and that's the longest I've been at a school O’Connell is a great school so I'm grateful for that. 

What about these songs makes them festive for the holidays?

LaCrosse: Each of these songs has its own way of capturing the holiday spirit. The music from Frozen evokes the magic of winter, with its sparkling melodies and emotional undertones. A Charlie Brown Christmas is pure nostalgia and it brings back memories of cozy nights watching the Peanuts specials with loved ones. The Christmas Classics and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas are timeless and capture the warmth, love, and traditions of the season. What makes them so festive is their ability to evoke feelings of joy, togetherness, and reflection. They’re like musical ornaments that decorate the season with meaning. 

Isaacson: Some of them have a holiday theme, Merry Christmas March or The Christmas Sween, and even some I have arranged on two fishers, so it is, since the pandemic I've done a lot of arranging and I’ve found a program to use! So some of the songs have a Christmas theme, one of the songs the symphonic band is doing is called Liberty Bell March. We didn't have time in the fall program to perform it so we added it to the winter program. The jazz band is doing a bunch of tunes out of the Christmas rule book, and their different tunes from the ones we’ve done in the last year and the year before. 

Why did you choose these songs for the concert?

LaCrosse: I chose these songs because they represent the best of what the holidays are all about: family, joy, and memories. Each piece has a universal appeal, ensuring that everyone in the audience, whether young or old, can find something to connect with. We also wanted to balance a sense of nostalgia with contemporary charm, which is why Frozen and A Charlie Brown Christmas are perfect companions to the classics. Ultimately, these songs were chosen to create a concert that feels familiar and heartwarming, like gathering around the fire with loved ones.

Isaacson: I chose these pieces because there is a musical education reason to be there. It actually goes back to years ago when I was teaching at a public school. There was that whole thing with how much Christmas music can you do, how much Hanukkah music can you do, how much non-Christmas music can you do. So I said to my principal, “These are the pieces I choose, these are my reasons and everything has a musically educational reason for being there” When parents came to her “he’s not doing enough of this—” she said “These are his reasons these are his lesson plans”. Luckily I’ve never had that problem at O’Connell. But yet again, there are a lot of really great arrangements out there and I want to make sure you get the good stuff. Kids learn something from pieces like that.

What is your favorite song that will be performed at the concert?

LaCrosse: It’s hard to choose my favorite song for this concert, but if I had to pick, I’d say Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. There’s something so timeless and poignant about it. The melody is simple yet incredibly moving, and the lyrics remind us to cherish the moment and the people around us. Every time I hear it, it feels like an invitation to slow down, reflect, and embrace the season's true spirit. It’s a beautiful way to wrap up the concert and leave the audience with a sense of peace and warmth

What is your favorite part of the concert as a director?

Isaacson: Making music and doing so building synergy as a group. You take a bunch of individual musicians and involve them in a performance they thought they never could’ve.

The Orchestra’s performance of A Charlie Brown Christmas and the Frozen soundtrack brought waves of nostalgia to the crowd through the familiar lyrics and melodies. The seamless blend of strings, winds, and percussion felt like magic, captured these beloved works' essence. During the performance of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, the blend among the sections brought a rich depth to the arrangement, evoking a profound emotional connection with the audience. It was an elegant tribute to the enduring legacy of the song, leaving listeners with a sense of comfort and holiday cheer that lingered long after the performance ended.

In addition, some performers took up a conducting role for the concert. Percussionist for Concert Band Jon Tyler ('27) conducted The Quadrille: A Catalonian Dance, a piece arranged by Mr. Isaacson. Jon’s conducting style captured its lively, upbeat character, engaging both the performers and the audience. Percussionist Vincent Nguyen ('26) conducted Liberty Bell March in the Symphonic Band. His precision and poise as a conductor captured the patriotic spirit of the music, evoking imagery of grand marching bands with every beat. Tenor saxophonist Lance Jayme (‘26) conducted Two Fisherman another piece arranged by Mr. Isaacson. Jayme’s ability to conduct the sea-shanty-like melody brought a unique charm to the performance, showcasing his musical sensitivity. Finally, as the last student conductor of the evening, bass clarinetist Charles Woolfley (‘26) conducted March of the Belgian Parachutists, with enthusiasm, skillfully drawing out the lively, high-pitched melody that gave the piece its upbeat and celebratory character.