By Maia Engelbrecht
A sure example of the live events returning to the halls of CIS as COVID-19 measures become more flexible was the long-anticipated winter concert. Celebrating Christmas spirit while offering a platform for the school’s choirs and several rock bands, the winter concert’s intention was to showcase the school’s range of talent, and it certainly delivered.
With a turnout surpassing that of previous years, even before the pandemic, we can expect great things to come. The future events that CIS hosts will only have better and better performances, as more and more people become eager to join its musically-inclined community.
Featuring the grade 7-8 and 9-12 choirs, the performances ranged from modern pop favourites to traditional Christmas folk songs, with standout vocal prowess from multiple soloists. And amongst the rock bands’ performances was an array of songs that, although not remarkably resembling those of a typical Christmas concert, showcased the student’s passion for music and performing through a multitude of genres. Not only was the concert a space in which the students could express their talents, but also, it served as a significant opportunity for CAS for many of them. The commitment and oftentimes tedious rehearsal and organization that goes into performing with a group would have likely been the perfect activity to record the process of and reflect on; certainly, it was a chance for many of them to fulfill the art requisite for the diploma program, despite the quality of their performance. However, despite the incentive, all the performances were carried out with great care, and by people who genuinely cared about their craft, it seemed.
