A Night of Music, Community, and Winter Magic at LCS

On Monday December 8, the LCS Theatre transformed into a warm and joyful celebration of student talent for our annual Winter Concert—a night that showcased the remarkable depth, range, and heart of our musicians across every ensemble.

The evening opened with the Concert Band, whose performance of James Curnow’s Canticum set a bright, confident tone for the night. Their spirited rendition of The Polar Express medley carried the audience straight into the festive season. Soloist Wesley Carr followed with a beautifully rendered version of Neil Young’s Long May You Run, offering a reflective moment that lingered with the audience long after the final note.

The String Ensemble continued the evening’s rich musical journey with Corelli’s Christmas Concerto (Op. 6, No. 8, Adagio), bringing elegance and warmth to the stage. Their performance of the traditional Ukrainian Carol of the Bells showcased both precision and emotion, building beautifully into Charlotte Griffin’s heartfelt solo performance of Let It Be.

The concert’s middle section featured a series of standout solo and small-group performances. Brothers Sam and John Braeckman delivered a smooth, charming take on Fly Me to the Moon, while the Lorelei Consort filled the theatre with lush harmonies in The Christmas Song and a striking arrangement of Carol of the Bells. Deniz Kucuk then captivated the audience with an impressive and technically demanding performance of Chopin’s Fantasie-Impromptu in C# Minor, Op. 66, one of the evening’s most memorable classical highlights.

Adding a contemporary flair, Maddie Arbo and Ansheng Zhou performed Lifetime by Justin Bieber with warmth and connection. The energy then shifted as student band The Blue Cold Chili Peppers (Colson Tully, Anton Zeitlinger Fontana, Axel Zeitlinger Fontana, and Ethan Chen) brought rock and rhythm to the stage with their dynamic performance of Dani California. Immediately following, Bavy (Yahiro Teraoka, Arwyn Huang, Mr. Braeckman, and Mr. Van Oostveen) delivered a crowd-pleasing rendition of Stand By Me, blending musicianship and showmanship in perfect balance.

The LAKeffect Jazz Ensemble kept the momentum going. Their smooth, engaging take on Miles Davis’s So What featured standout solos from Veda Cunniffe, Ryan Jennings, Charlotte Griffin, and Colson Tully, each adding their own unique voice to the classic. They followed with festive arrangements of O Little Town of Bethlehem and Funky Old Saint Nick, highlighted by solos from Ryan Jennings and Arwyn Huang that brought the audience fully into the spirit of the season.

The evening concluded with the always-anticipated Rock Choir, who delivered a high-energy rendition of Fleetwood Mac’s Go Your Own Way before launching into the night’s unforgettable finale: U2’s Baby Please Come Home. As the choir hit the chorus, the entire theatre joined in, calling out “Christmas!” with joyful enthusiasm—a shared moment that captured the essence of the night: community, celebration, and the power of music to bring people together.

As applause filled the theatre, it was clear that the Winter Concert was more than a performance—it was a testament to the dedication of our students, the guidance of our music faculty, and the supportive spirit of our LCS community.

Thank you to every performer, director, and behind-the-scenes contributor who made this year’s concert such a memorable celebration. Here’s to a season filled with music, connection, and joy.