West Point Performing Arts put on its second annual Christmas Spectacular over the weekend. / W.C. Mann
WEST POINT – On Sunday afternoon, the performing arts program spearheaded by Ty Parker at West Point High School (WPHS) celebrated the season with the last of three performances of its Christmas Spectacular featuring multiple components of the program.
Included in the program were the:
- Guitar Ensemble – “Carol of the Bells"
- Wind Ensemble – “Angels We Have Heard on High," "Bring a Torch Jeanette Isabella," "Sleigh Ride", "O Come, All Ye Faithful"
- Color Guard – flag routine to “Here Comes Santa Claus”
- Katie Coleman – piano solo “Christmas Song”
- Drumline – “Christmas Cadence (Jingle Bells)”
- Warriorettes – dance routine to “All I Want for Christmas”
- WP Trio – “Hallelujah”
- Woodwind Ensemble – “Silent Night”
- Kim Harbison – vocal solo “Do You Hear What I Hear?”
- Jack Sellers – Christmas carols
- Majorettes – baton routine to “Little Drummer Boy”
- Graciella (Gracie) Smith – solo dance to “Ave Maria”
- WP Middle and High School Dancers – dance routine to “Run Run Rudolph”
- Brass Ensemble – “The First Noel”
At the end, the full cast came together for “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” Emcees for the show were Colby Smith and Tekoa Walker.
With WPHS’ football team going to the playoffs and the band following along, the preparation time was shorter than Parker would have liked this year, but he still commended his students for their readiness by the weekend of the Extravaganza.
Parker talked to The Tribune about his program, now in its second year:
“This semester’s gone really well. We’ve seen a significant growth in numbers here. The theater’s gone from about 30 to 60 members. The dance department went from zero to 67 this semester, and the band has grown, too, and also our singers’ group has grown, too.
“Everything’s going really well, thanks to our administration. The scheduling was a little tricky at first, to work in in-school dance instruction, but we got that worked out. Amanda Yearwood’s our counselor; she’s lined everything up and it’s gone really well. Jessica Patterson has done a lot of the choreography; she’s been awesome in helping me with the program. My band boosters, the principals here: Heath Yearwood, Clark Farley, Kevin Sullins at Harmony.
“It takes a village, and we have a really good team. We only had three weeks to get ready, but the kids worked very diligently, and I think it’s put the community in the Christmas spirit.”
Later in the afternoon, the West Point Dance Studio held its own recital for students from high school all the way down to kindergarten.
Of his younger dancers, Parker said, “In order to help build the older (students’) dance studio up, we started from the ground and laid a foundation with kindergarten through third grade. We have 47 students enrolled in after-school dance once a week, taught by Gracie Smith. We’re opening that up to the intermediate school next year, once we get a system in place. We had a lot more sign up than expected.”
Look for the WPHS Performing Arts production of “Beauty and the Beast” in February 2018.
For more information about WPHS Performing Arts, visit the WPHS Facebook page.
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