Roland Park Country School welcomes you to the
Traditional Upper School Christmas Program
Sinex Theater December 18, 2024 6:00 p.m.
Program
Prelude: Ha-Na Song, cello
Welcome: Sashrika Kandadi, SGA President
Procession
Hodie Arr. Benjamin Britten
Processional
Hosanna to the Living Lord Dykes
Alumnae are invited to stand and join in singing.
Hosanna to the living Lord! Hosanna to the incarnate word! To Christ, Creator, Saviour, King, let earth, let heav’n Hosanna sing! Hosanna, Lord! Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna, Lord! Thine angels cry; Hosanna, Lord! Thy saints reply Above, beneath us, and around, The dead and living swell the sound, Hosanna, Lord! Hosanna in the highest!
So in the last and dreadful day, When earth and Heav’n shall melt away, Thy flock, redeemed from sinful stain, Shall swell the sound of praise again. Hosanna, Lord! Hosanna in the highest!
Reading: Charlotte Goldman & Yvonne Romulus
Ring Out, Wild Bells Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Living Reproduction
Our Lady Mary with her Beloved Son, Archangels, and Supplicant
Left Archangel: Nina Coles
Mary: Brooklyn Smith
Right Archangel: Sarah Savage
Artist Unknown
Ethiopia’s Christian history dates back to the 4th Century CE when the Axumite king Ezana converted to Christianity. The central panel of this Ethiopian triptych icon depicts the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child in an embrace that echoes the Byzantine “Virgin of Tenderness” type. Each side panel portrays an archangel holding one hand up in blessing and the other offering lilies, a symbol of Mary’s purity.
Musical Accompaniment: Sonata in F Major K 378, Domenico Scarlatti
Musical Performance: Somettos
White Christmas
Go Where I Send Thee
Audience Carol
Arr. Mac Huff
Words and Music: Irving Berlin
Gospel Spiritual, Arr. Paul Caldwell/Sean Ivory
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Please stand and join in singing.
Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King; Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!” Joyful, all ye nations, rise, join the triumph of the skies; With th’angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”
Christ, the highest heav’n adored; Christ the everlasting Lord! Late in time behold him come, offspring of the Virgin’s womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail th’incarnate Deity; Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel.
Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”
Hail the Heav’n-born prince of peace! Hail the Son of righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, ris’n with healing in His wings. Mild he lays his glory by, born that man no more may die, Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth.
Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”
Reading: Sam Arthur-Merow & Aveon Green
When Giving Is All We Have Alberto Ríos
Living Reproduction
The Light of the World François Boucher, 1750
Joseph: Londynn Harper
Mary: Avery Shaughnessy
Grandmother: Julia Mazziott
Curious Child: Tatum Jackson
Kneeling Child: Ellie Wiggs
Shepherd’s Wife: Courtney Wiggs
Shepherd: Charlotte Hardcastle
This painting captures an intimate yet theatrical moment, as young and old gather to adore the newborn Jesus. The light touch of the background characterizes the Rococo period of 18th century France.
Musical Accompaniment: Suite in A Major, Georg Philip Telemann
Musical Performance: Semiquavers
O Holy Night with Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring Arr. Keith Christopher
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen Trad. English Carol, Arr. Audrey Snyder
Soloist: Anna Bartel
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree Arr. Keith Abrahamson
Audience Carol
The First Noel
Please stand and join in singing.
The First Noel, the angel did say, Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay. In fields where they lay keeping their sheep On a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel Born is the King of Israel.
They looked up and saw a star Shining in the east beyond them far And to the earth it gave great light And so it continued both day and night.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel Born is the King of Israel.
Reading: Jane Hughes
Little Tree
Living Reproduction
E.E. Cummings
Waltz of the Snowflakes Beverly Brown, 2016
Ballerinas: Enife Akinbami, Lilah Bracken, Kate Gentles, Evie Howard, Chloe Smith, Eden Varghese, Olly Hughes, Ellee Sale, Evi Vincent
This digital painting, inspired by Tchaikovsky’s magical Waltz of the Snowflakes, was painted by New York-based artist, Beverly Brown. The graceful ballerinas, donning white tutus and sparkly tiaras, evoke the ethereal visions of dancing snowflakes from the famous Russian ballet.
Musical Selection: Nocturne in B Major Op.32, No. 1, Frédéric Chopin
Musical Performance: Traveling Men
That’s Christmas to Me
Musical Performance: Semiquavers & Traveling Men
I’ll Be Home for Christmas Arr. Mac Huff
Musical Performance: Semiquavers
Jingle Bell Rock Arr. Keith Abrahamson
Audience Carol Joy to the World
Please stand and join in singing.
Joy to the world, the Lord is come, Let Earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare Him room, And Heaven and nature sing, And Heaven and nature sing, And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.
Joy to the Earth, the Savior reigns, Let all their songs employ. While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.
He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness And wonders of His love, And wonders of His love, And wonders, wonders, of His love.
Musical Performance: Upper School Chorus
Carol of the Bells Ukrainian Carol, Arr. Peter J. Wilhousky
All On A Silent Night Arr. Becki Slagle Mayo
Winter Wonderland Arr. Kirby Shaw
Musical Performance: Upper School Chorus & Employee Singers Night of Silence Arr. John Ferguson
Holiday Greeting: Ava Mazziott, Semiquavers President
Musical Performance: Semiquavers
Softly the Stars Were Shining Adolf Torovsky
Recessional Personent Hodie, German Carol Arr. Holst
Alumnae are invited to stand and sing.
On this day earth shall ring, With the song children sing To the Lord, Christ our King, Born on earth to save us; Him the Father gave us.
Refrain:
Ideo-o-o, Ideo-o-o, Id-e-o gloria in excelsis Deo!
His the doom, ours the mirth; When he came down to earth, Bethlehem saw his birth; Ox and ass beside him From the cold would hide him.
Refrain.
God’s bright star, o’er his head, Wise men three to him led, Kneel they low by his bed, Lay their gifts before him, Praise him and adore him.
Refrain.
On this day angels sing; with their song earth shall ring, Praising Christ, heaven’s King, born on earth to save us; Peace and love he gave us.
Refrain.
We invite our alumnae to join us immediately following the program for the Alumnae Holiday Reception in the Faissler Library!
Program Participants
Semiquavers
Claire Bachman, Anna Bartel, Áine Fitzgibbon, Krisha Gandhi, Geri Kayingo, Olivia Knott, Ava Mazziott (President),
Ashby McGill, Yvonne Romulus, Caroline Scharpf, Sam Spensieri, London Thompson, Nico Whetzel
Somettos
Claire Boyd, Shoa Campbell, Kendal Campbell-Howard, Gabby Carey, Gigi Cohen, Arianna Counsell, Aveon Green, Cricket Henderson, Cleo Houston, Jane Hughes, Hannah James, Morgen Kunhardt, Caroline Makowka, Katie Marsh, Sloane Mitchell, Lilly Moss, Sarajane Roarty, Emma Sanchez, Ruby Walsh, Juliet White
Upper School Chorus
Claire Bachman, Anna Bartel, Megan Bealefeld, Riley Belcher-Pasztor, Claire Boyd, Shoa Campbell, Kendal Campbell-Howard, Gabby Carey, Niya Cockrell, Gigi Cohen, Arianna Counsell, Arden Fisher, Áine Fitzgibbon, Krisha Gandhi, Charlotte Goldman, Aveon Green, Cricket Henderson, Cleo Houston, Jane Hughes, Hannah James, Geri Kayingo, Olivia Knott, Morgen Kunhardt, Caroline Makowka, Nia Manning, Katie Marsh, Ava Mazziott, Ashby McGill, Emmy McLain, Sloane Mitchell, Sienna Modha, Lilly Moss, Sarajane Roarty, Yvonne Romulus, Mia Rosengarten, Emma Sanchez, Caroline Scharpf, Sam Spensieri, London Thompson, Ruby Walsh, Nico Whetzel, Juliet White
Footlights Theatre Ensemble
Sam Arthur-Merow, Riley Belcher-Pasztor, Charlotte Goldman, Aveon Green, Jane Hughes, Sarajane Roarty, Yvonne Romulus (President)
Gilman Traveling Men
Amir Arnold, Eli Asiedu, Carlos Baleeiro, Zachary Fader, Jemmel Green, Jackson Heether, Alijah Lewis, Grayson Mickel, Xiani Monroe, Dylan Moyar, Idoko Obeya, Liam Rivers, Derick Su, Grant Wright, Brandon Wu, Logan Yousefi
Living Reproductions Upper School Stage Crew
Anna Bartel, Amelia Bosio, Claire Boyd, Elise Boyd, Aubrey Brown, Gabby Carey, Maisie Chaite, Maddie Colón, Olivia Cooper, Ellen Crosby, Helen DiGiovanni, Kayci Gathers, Lilly Gerken, Ella Gessner, Madison Goldsmith, Brooke Grabush, Teagan Hanley, Josslyn Hauserman, Khloe Karcher, Talya Kohan-Gaffar, Simone Le Gette, Alexis Maglin, Gabrielle Manning, Kalen Manning, Victoria Margerum, Maher Masood, Chloé Mitchell, Lilly Moss, Eliana Pohlhaus, Ava Poon-Ying, Sophie Restelli, Kendall Robertson, Amani Shannon, Gracie Smallwood, Brooklyn Stewart, Bryn Sutcliffe, Josie Torsani, Anna Lee Vassil, Violet Walsh, Kherington Walters, Juliet White, Gwen Wilson
Employee Singers
Nicole Acaso, Jim Ashton, Laurie Bacon, Elizabeth Blaum, Casey Lord Briggs, 1991, Melissa Bristow Carter-Bey, 1992, Cat Crowder, 2004, Cindy Crown, Jen Burstein, Sally Diehl, Lisa Anne Diver, 2006, Shelly Fedash, Kate Feiring, Molly Ricely FitzGerald, 2006, Courtney Fitzgibbon, Rachel Gahan, Jenny Greene, Christina Grippi, India Henry, Kim Hoffman, Cari Hummel, Scott Jackson, Elisha James, Sarah Layng, Margaret Lofgren, Randi Martin, Holly McAslan, Alexa Miton, Lynda-Marie Monaco, Rachel Oberlin, Robin Prescott, Sarah Morehead Pope, 2006, Olivia Portolese, Sara Rollfinke, Joan Smith, HA, Dani Kell Steinbach, 2004, Melissa Tully, Abby Vidmer, Leonard Walker, Elizabeth White, Kim Wilson, Evelyn Zink, HA
History
The Traditional Upper School Christmas Program remains one of Roland Park Country School’s oldest traditions. From the beginning and into the 1990s, the Program was attended by all students and held in the gym, centered around a large Christmas tree. It marked the start of winter break as students were dismissed for the holidays following the Program. It has evolved though the years, and while tradition still stands over 100 years later, the Living Reproductions have become more inclusive and modernized.
As stated in the 1922 Quid Nunc yearbook: “On the last day before school closed for Christmas vacation, the Upper and Lower Schools joined in carol singing and in a series of tableaux depicting famous Christmas paintings.” Biblical readings preceded the viewing of each tableau. English teacher Helen Irvin was so inspired by the tableaux she saw while in Oxford, England, she brought the idea back to RPCS. During these early days, Miss Irvin supervised the production’s staging and costuming. In 1945, under the guidance of then-art teacher Elizabeth Winn, an industrious RPCS eighth grader volunteered to help paint her first tableau. That student, Judy Waters, a graduate of the Class of 1950 and a former, long-time Upper School art teacher, became the Director of the Living Reproductions for over 50 years! A former student of Judy Waters, Carol Witz Hunt, 1976, followed in Judy’s footsteps, assisting her in 2008 before becoming the Artistic Designer and Director when Judy retired in 2014.
Carol has since retired, and in 2022, RPCS employees took over the helm as co-directors. In this year’s production, Annie Ferebee Short, 2001, Middle and Upper School dance teacher, who served on the stage crew for the Living Reproductions as an RPCS student and as Assistant Director of the Program under both Judy and Carol, along with Emily Dierkes Rohrer, 2002, Upper School art teacher, are Co-Directors of this beloved performance. In 2022, Missie Mack, former Director of Alumnae Relations, also served as Co-Director.
Other alumnae have also been involved in the Program through the years. Most notably, Janet Bauer Hartman, 1968, current Trustee and former Middle School Art teacher, was invaluable in assisting in the design and production for over 30 years. Amy Barrett Frew, 1972, former Middle School math teacher, also joined the production for many years as Assistant Director. We are grateful for the dedication and efforts of all of these amazing alumnae! Due to the pandemic, the Program was presented virtually in 2020 and 2021.
Throughout its history, parents and RPCS employees have helped to sew costumes, working tirelessly to match the colors, fabrics, and designs portrayed in the original images. Today, Middle School students volunteer to perform in the Living Reproductions and Upper School students continue to assist as the backstage crew. Students practice holding their position and facial expression for several minutes at a time. Regular rehearsals are held, which include breathing exercises and lessons in assuming a relaxed, but motionless pose.
For over 100 years, seasonal music and the melodious sounds of student voices have also been an important element of the Christmas Program. As described in the December 21, 1928, issue of the School newspaper, “The Choir led the procession and sang carols between the acts of the play.” In 1943, students began singing “Hosanna to the Living Lord” as we do today. “Personent Hodie” or “Ideo, Gloria in Excelsis Deo!” as many refer to it, has remained the chosen recessional since 1952. We hope you enjoy the spectacular holiday music from the Semiquavers, Somettos, and Upper School Chorus.
Program Acknowledgements
Living Reproductions
Emily Dierkes Rohrer, 2002: Co-Director
Annie Ferebee Short, 2001: Co-Director
Missie Mack: Rehearsal Assistant and Director Emerita
Green Room Assistant
Julie Bierman: Middle School Learning Specialist
Hope Biersach: Middle/Upper School Spanish Teacher
Music
Lisa Anne Diver, 2006: Director of Semiquavers, Somettos, & Chorus
Rachel Gahan: Lower School Music Teacher: Accompanist
Robby Ford: Director of Gilman Traveling Men
Dave Rybczynski: Saxophone
Ha-Na Song: Cello
Readings
Directed by Randi Bradley Martin, Footlights Theater Ensemble Director
Stage Construction
Jericho Productions, 42nd year
Lighting and Sound
Janine Vreatt, Sinex Theater Technical Director
Livestream EventTech
Special Thanks
Joan Smith, HA, GP’24, Head of School
Sara Franklin Rollfinke, Upper School Head
Margaret Lofgren, Middle School Head
Kate Feiring, Director of myRPCS Administration & Registrar
Emily Hewlings, US Senior Program Support & Associate Registrar
Alison Keim, Assistant to the Middle School Head
Katy Spencer, 1993 Director of Alumnae Engagement
Rene Hill, Set-Up Coordinator
Margie McIntosh, Assistant Set-Up Coordinator
Abbey Pulcinella, Director of Communications
Melissa Tully, Senior Communications Associate
Tracy Bracken, Photographer
Visual and Performing Arts Departments
Maintenance & Security
Friends and Family
Roland Park Country School wishes to acknowledge the late Elizabeth Edgar Swope, 1931 whose generosity has helped to sustain The Traditional Upper School Christmas Program annually. In honor of the School’s Centennial in 2001, Mrs. Swope established an endowment to ensure the continuation of this treasured RPCS tradition.
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