NORTH RALEIGH CHRISTIAN ACADEMY The Shield Times ISSUE #5 NRCAKNIGHTS.COM DECEMBER 17, 2020

And the Bands Played On

Jim Burk play making it awkward for musicians and performing in the chapels that were only one Band Director challenging for directors to see what students day before the ACSI festival was cancelled might need to do to improve. To perform a for COVID-19 and the week before NRCA As you might expect in 2020, the NRCA concert, bands that usually perform in tandem transitioned to remote learning last spring. bands have had the most unusual start ever to on concert nights would have to be separated The challenges and circumstances made the their school year. The bands have been forced out and audience size reduced. sounds of Christmas in the Sherrill Center to break with tradition in how they set up to In spite of the COVID-19 challenges, our for the Performing Arts all the more special promote social distancing. Schedules have bands not only had a good first semester but for our bands and their audiences this year. been staggered for the same reason resulting were also able to showcase their talents and Congratulations to our Beginning Band, in a 20% loss of time for middle school and achievements while putting their audience Sixth Grade Band, Middle School Band, high school band rehearsals while reducing in the Christmas spirit during their annual High School Wind Ensemble and Honors Jazz beginning band rehearsals by 50%. Although Christmas concerts. While the Fifth Grade Ensemble on their fine performances during it was easy enough for brass players to put Beginning Band took in their first concert the final days of our first semester. Thanks be covers over their bells, many noticed the experience, the 2020 Sixth Grade Band was to God for the gift of music that is just one sound difference and air restriction as they returning to the stage after an entire year since of His many blessings that help make even a played. Other instruments, like clarinets and their first performance. The rest of our bands year as challenging as 2020 more enjoyable. saxophones, had to be put in cloth bags to had not experienced the stage as a group since  The NRCA Choirs filled the school and homes with the sounds of Christmas Lisa Bass attire and looked great in their Christmas traditional closing number, “Peace, Peace.” Choir Teacher colors! They sang a Christmas spiritual, a The NRCA High School Choir and Honors Canadian carol, a “call & response” song, as Vocal Ensemble presented “It’s Christmas!” In lieu of a live concert this season, the well as a medley of familiar carols. on Saturday, December 5 to a small but fourth-grade classes recorded a mini- Our Sixth Grade Choir and Middle School encouraging audience. The first half of the musical entitled “Searching for the Savior.” Choir presented their traditional Christmas concert included their more traditional and The storyline involved Benjamin and his pet concert on Friday, December 4, to a full (yet sacred pieces, such as “Angels and Shepherds,” sheep, Sam, who went on an adventure to socially-distanced) crowd. Entitled “We Sing “” and “Riu Riu Chiu,” 1st & 2nd Grade presents find the baby Jesus in Bethlehem. Each class Gloria!,” it began with the Sixth Grade Choir a Spanish song that featured soloist, Jackie presented two songs and had students that singing settings of familiar carols, “Carol of the Sarria. Pianist, Ivan Tew, played impressive The Best played the characters of Narrator, Benjamin, Angels” (“Angels We Have Heard on High”), arrangements of “Jingle Bells” and “We Wish Sam, Mother and Sister. Thanks to Mr. Pizzino “Silent Night! Silent World” (“Silent Night”) You a Merry Christmas” during intermission. and his video expertise, we were able to splice and “Ring-a Ring-a Ring” (“Jingle Bells”). One Our singers came out for the second half in the recordings together to present this special of the highlights of their set was “Snow Day!,” fun sweaters, and wild Christmas outfits and CHRISTMAS musical experience for our students and their in which the singers beg for a snow day. Dr. crazy headgear to entertain the crowd with families. Mathes was in the audience and confirmed “,” “We Need a Little Christmas” Present Ever! On Thursday night, December 3, the afterward that we would get a snow day when and “The Dinner Bell Carol,” a spoof on the Laura Garrett Fifth Grade Choir presented “Born, Born in the time came! The Middle School Choir sang familiar “Carol of the Bells.” Even through Elementary Music Teacher Bethlehem” to an appreciative audience of “One Child,” which included some duet and masks, all these talented students were able to parents and siblings, while others from around trio groups, “Do You Hear What I Hear?” share the gift of music with so many - Praise The first and second grade classes were the city, state and country were able to watch and “Jingle Bell Dash,” a fun arrangement of be to God!  excited to present their pre-recorded, streamed online. The students were dressed in festive “Jingle Bells.” They ended the concert with our musical, “The Best Christmas Present Ever!” on December 7 and 8. Through narration and singing, the children from a local school invite everyone to a birthday party for Jesus. They know that nothing is more important than sharing the good news of Jesus and celebrating His birth. Some of the favorite songs were: Good News! Great Joy!, Nothing is Impossible with God, Let’s Go and Tell the People Today and Happy Birthday, Jesus. Our prayer is that friends, family and neighbors were blessed by the performances and that many have actually received “The Best Christmas Present Ever!” 