For Jr./Sr. High School music teachers Mrs. Emily Davis and Mrs. Kristyn Cutler, some of their fondest memories with students are made during the holiday season.
Thanks to some creativity, the 2020 holiday season will still be one to remember. 
With traditional in-person performances not possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mrs. Davis came up with the idea to create a holiday album. “Christmas Together” is a collection of 10 holiday favorites produced by students in the Westmoreland music program including the Select Choir, Broadway Voices, Saxophone Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble and Brass Ensemble.
“In mid-summer, I realized our lives were not going to return to normal this school year,” said Mrs. Davis. “I began to wonder what I could do to give my students an artistic outlet and continue to connect with our community when they weren’t allowed to be ‘together.’ The album, ‘Christmas Together,’ enables students to still be ‘together’ and perform for our community - - just in a different way.”
To make the album a reality, each student spent countless hours learning and practicing the music before recording it on their smart phone or other digital recording device. The tedious task of mixing all of the recordings was completed by Jason Davis, Mrs. Davis’ husband, and Mrs. Cutler. Mr. Davis mixed the choral sections and Mrs. Cutler mixed the instrumental tracks, ensuring everyone could, in fact, be “together.”
“Performing has been, and will always be, one of the most special ways to express ourselves, show off our hard work and spread holiday cheer,” said Mrs. Cutler. “During this time of year, our groups are typically so busy hustling around our community, sharing the gift of music. We have missed the laughs and smiles we bring to community members, but I’m so excited we were able to find a new way to still spread the same cheer.”
Both Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Cutler say the endeavor would not have been possible without the support of the Board of Education, school administration and, of course, their students.
“It was a lot of fun to be a part of this album,” said senior Jason Robinson, who performs in the Select Choir, Saxophone Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble and Broadway Voices. “While we haven’t been able to travel to places to perform, it’s still nice to provide the community with some holiday joy.”
For a full list of performing students, click here.
To download and listen to the entire “Christmas Together” album, click here, or click on the individual song titles below.
Songs
Sing We Now of Christmas “Noel Nouvelet” – Select Chorus
The Twelve Tunes of Christmas – Saxophone Ensemble
Joy to the World! – Brass Ensemble
Veni, Veni Emmanuel Ero Cras (I Will Come) – Select Chorus
Silent Night – Jazz Ensemble
Ding! Dong! Merrily on High – Select Chorus
Carol of the Bells – Brass Ensemble
Patapan Fantasia – Select Chorus
Funky Ol’ Saint Nick – Jazz Ensemble
Elf – A Medley from the Broadway Musical – Broadway Voices
Sparklejollytwinklejingly
Christmastown
A Christmas Song