2023 All School Christmas Gala

Pre-Concert Music High School Jazz Band Director: Aaron Johnson

Opening Welcome There Is Room in the Circle: (students representing home languages) “O Come, O Come Immanuel” (anon): Grades 1-8, Beginning Choir, Advanced Choir Directors: Aaron Johnson, Danielle Svonavec Solo: Alina Bergstresser The Circle Is Called into Being: Mary, Joseph and the Holy Spirit Bells: Grade 6 Leaders: Katelyn Hochstetler, Linda Hochstetler, Danielle Svonavec Luke 1:30-33 and Narration “Second Eve” (by Ola Gijelo): Advanced Choir Director: Danielle Svonavec The Circle Is Born: A Family Circle Bells: Grade 6 Luke 2:7 and Narration “Love Came Down at Christmas” (text by Christina G. Rosssetti, music by C. Edgar Pettman): Grades 3-4 acc.

Mariam Ilyuk, Isaya Magatti Directors: Andrew Lanctot, Sarah Steiner, Aaron

Johnson “Away In a Manger/Lord of the Dance” (by Ronan Hardiman, arr.

Larry Moore): Middle School Orchestra Director: Brook Bennett The Circle Expands: The Household Bells: Grade 6 Narration “Circle of Love” (by Dolly Parton): Grades 1-2, High School Ukulele Interterm Group Directors: Ashton Cluts, Jen Bontrager The Circle Expands: Shepherds Bells: Grade 6 Luke 2:8-16 and Narration “Shepherds Hey” (arr. Andrew Balent): Middle School Band Director: Aaron Johnson

The Circle Expands: Elders Bells: Grade 6 Luke 2:29-32; Luke 2:36-38 and Narration “Canticle of Simeon”(by Jolanda Robertson, text Luke 2:29-32): Beginning Choir Director: Aaron Johnson Percussion: Adam Siemens-Rhodes Saxophone: James Lind The Circle Expands: Magi Bells: Grade 6 Matthew 2:1-2; 9b-11 and Narration “Fantasia on a Theme” by Thomas Tallis (by Ralph Vaughan Williams, arr. Jamin Hoffman): High School Orchestra Director: Brook Bennett “Los magos que llegaron a Belén” (trad. Puerto Rican, arr. Nancy M. Raabe): Middle School Choir Director: Danielle Svonavec Piano: Brenda Mestach The Circle Expands: Infinitely “Corde natus ex parentis” (Medieval plainsong, arr.

Danielle Svonavec): Grade 6 Narration “Music of the Spheres”(arr. Gary P. Gilroy): High School Band, Grade 5 Directors: Aaron Johnson, Eliza Stoltzfus “Draw the Circle” (text by Gordon Light, music by Mark A. Miller): Grades 1-8, Beginning Choir, Advanced Choir acc. Isaya Magatti Director: Danielle Svonavec Solo: Alina Bergstresser

Closing Closing Words Joy to the World (arr. Merle J. Isaac): Full School, High School Band Directors: Aaron Johnson, Danielle Svonavec

Personnel Stage Crew: Kaylee Woelk Actors: Margo Finnigan (Mary), Gaige Hochstetler (Joseph), Elena Unzicker (Host), Benji Fleming (Cow), Grace Triplett (Shepherd), Martha Hanby (Sheep), Evan Gutierrez (Simeon), Sofia Johar (Anna), Solomiya Ilyuk (Magi), Emilio Silva (Magi) Readers: Nico Brenneman, Jisel Lopez, Morgan Chupp, Eviella Sefu, Karla Torres-Enciso, Emily Swartzendruber Home Language Speakers: Eviella Sefu (Kikongo), Harold Hartzler Bhandari (Nepali), Magdalena Gollner (German), Stefan Magatti (Swahili), Navya Jha (Maithili), Shemaya Magatti (Luo), Neer

Goswami (Bengali), Charlotte Miller-Chapman (Hungarian), Lena Claassen (Japanese), Eliana Silva (Spanish), Poppy Dee Kendall (Thai or Lua), Vuyisiwe Ncube (Ndebele), Grace Triplett (Pennsylvania Dutch), Benjamin Hoang (Vietnamese), Mariam Ilyuk (Ukranian) Expanding Circle Creation: Sarah Yoder, All Students Circle Light Creation: Aaron Johnson Stage Director: Talashia Keim Yoder Vocal Director: Danielle Svonavec Band Director: Aaron Johnson Orchestra Director: Brook Bennett Gala Planning Team: Talashia Keim Yoder, Danielle Svonavec, Aaron Johnson, Abbe Buller, John Mast, Ashton Cluts, Edgar Silva Art Instructor: Christa Janzen Lobby Set-up: Daniel Yoder, Christa Janzen, John Mast, Benji Hurst, High School Students Head Usher: Renae Yoder Graphic Art: Anusha Jha Graphic Design and Publicity: Sumer Schlabach

Acknowledgements Brody Thomas (Music Center Production Manager), ITS Media (Lights and Sound), Cynthia Good Kaufmann and GC Events Staff, Bethany Faculty and Staff

Visual Note Each student at Bethany was asked to decorate a small circle in their classroom or advisory group. These circles were cut into fourths and glued together to create the eclectic backdrop for the 8 foot gala display. Students will be adding widening circles on top of the display throughout the gala performance. The circle light reminds us of God’s eternal presence in the circle. The candle is a symbol of the infant Jesus.

Art All of the artwork created by grades 1-8 fits the theme of “Circles” in a variety of ways. I especially loved the idea of using concentric circles as “expanding circles,” as you’ll see tonight. I hope you enjoy searching for the circles in each piece this year!

-Christa Janzen, Art Teacher 1st grade- Penguin Paintings The 1st graders learned about what concentric circles are and how to create their own using ink daubers. They looked at photos of a variety of penguins, watched a video of a baby chick hatching and then learned how to draw a baby penguin step-by-step. They drew their penguins with water-based markers, so the next step was to use brushes dipped in water to paint on top of the marker. This made

the penguins look fluffy. It was such a fun process! The last step was adding snow, of course!

2nd grade- Circle Collages The 2nd graders started their project by creating painted paper with paint sticks. They painted on a variety of papers: construction paper, old book pages and sheet music. Then they traced circles in various sizes and cut, layered and glued them onto their paper. The last step was adding designs with metallic sharpies.

3rd grade- Radial Weaving The 3rd graders learned how to weave with yarn to create vibrant radial weavings. They started by painting a plate with concentric circles. Then they learned how to create the warp by making “X”s across the plate. Finally, they chose the colors of yarn they wanted and created the weft of their weaving. It was fun to watch them choose colors of yarn based on how it would look with the colors of their painting. There was some great artistic decision making happening during this project!

4th grade- Snow Globes The 4th graders created snow globes by painting in concentric circles with watercolor paints. They chose whether they wanted to keep their circles separate or have them “bleed together.” Some also chose to add salt to give the effect of stars in the sky. Next, they practiced how to draw 3-dimensional houses and used drawing guides to add details.

They ripped white paper to create layers of snow and glued it all together. The last touch was, of course, snow. Look closely at thesethe details are amazing!

5th grade- Mandala Drawings The 5th graders learned about the history of mandalas and looked at beautiful examples throughout history. They began by creating their own designs on one “slice of pie.” Then they used a graphite transfer method to trace that design 4-8 times to create their mandala. They added contrast by tracing and filling in areas with sharpie markers.

They had several choices of how to add color to their design: colored pencil, marker, watercolor or foil printing. The time and details the students put into their mandalas made for stunning results!

6th grade- Paper Folding Radial Design Sculptures The 6th graders learned how to create three different kinds of paper folds to create their relief sculptures. They folded, layered, arranged and glued their folded papers into a radial design that starts in the middle of their circle. Black was chosen as the background color so that the bright colors “popped” off the page, creating contrast. It was fun to watch them make color decisions and play around with what looked the best to them.

7th grade- Watercolor Paintings This year, the seventh graders (taught by Chery Mast) have explored various art techniques including perspective drawings, painting,

and sketching. Their gala lobby display features neuro-graphic watercolor art, an art form that deliberately combines meditation and mindfulness into the creative process.

8th grade- Snowflake Gelli Prints The 8th graders currently taking an art class learned how to fold and cut 8-sided snowflakes and create prints using Gelli plates. They would roll ink out on the plate, place their snowflake on top and “pull a print.” They experimented with a variety of colors and styles of paper and colors of ink. The last step was to choose their favorite print and add zentangle designs with sharpie markers or paint pens. It was exciting to see the varying results during this process and to watch how each student chose to finish their project.

Additional Note: The 8th graders in Mr. Miller’s class were given the opportunity to write poems inspired by some younger students’ artwork. Look for these poems displayed near some of the artwork.

High School The high school art students have recently finished a variety of projects that are on display tonight. You will see some beautifully drawn portraits by the Intro to 2D Art students and some wheelthrown and hand-built clay projects created by the Intro to 3D Art and Ceramics students.

Director’s Note In the form of a baby, God came down to earth and pointed us toward God’s vision for the earth. In Jesus’s birth narrative, we have all kinds of interesting, outsider-y characters who find their way into the circle of the little family. It’s a glimpse of the expanding circle that Jesus will demonstrate, describe and live in his adult ministry, and of the opening of the circle that will happen as the apostles continue Jesus’s work after his death, resurrection and ascension.

This expanding circle resonates with the community we aspire to be at Bethany. We are drawing the circle wider to include younger children, but we also continue to seek to be a circle with room for broadly diverse people. Our communal circle doesn’t stop with people, but broadens to include the earth and all of creation. The circle’s borders open and become permeable as we also seek to engage our local and global community. It is challenging to be part of that expansive circle.

It requires all of us to open our hearts and minds and to see Christ in each person.

If you have ever felt like you’re on the outside looking in, like there’s no room for you, or simply like a misfit, we have a message for you tonight. You are welcome in the family circle that Jesus was born into, the family circle that continues today. And, as our students will say in their home languages tonight, there is room in the circle for all.

-Talashia Keim Yoder

We will sing together verses 1 and 4