2023 FESTIVAL OF LESSONS AND CAROLS
“Be it this Christmastime our care and delight to hear again the message of the angels.”
Rocco Panzica ’25 read the traditional Bidding Prayer at the outset of our “A Festival of Lessons and Carols,” presented by the CHS music ensembles Wednesday night, Dec. 13 at the beautiful St. Louis Church in downtown Buffalo (35 Edward St. at Main).
“A Festival of Lessons and Carols” is a traditional Christmas Eve service popularized by King’s College in Cambridge, England that dates back more than 100 years.
The service features nine biblical readings ranging from the story of Adam and Eve to the beginning of the Gospel of St. John. Musical pieces – carols – provide opportunity for reflection on the texts. The annual CHS presentation is free and open to the public.
Our students put on the performance for our school community in Scaccia Auditorium on the morning of Monday, Dec. 11 (see video below).
The event is headed by Fine Arts Department Chair Kevin Durkin '98, who is the conductor for the chorus. The orchestra, concert band, and handbells are under the direction of music teacher Jennifer Johnson; the guitar ensemble is directed by religion teacher Eric Koessler '84.
Orchestra
Owen Cheng, Armaan Das, John Eugino, Sam Gugliuzza, Mark John, Alex Nikitenko.
Concert Band
Zack Benczkowski, Ian Bren, Jonathon Burroughs, Aidan Devans, Nazariy Drofych, Antonio Falletta, Maksim Kushnir, Carson Kwiatkowski, Joshua Lanier, Nick Marcello, Evan Mitskovski, Noah Rajecki, Simon Reda, Brett Sauer, Ryan Stravino, Austin Xiao, Alex Zgoda.
Handbells Blue 1
Hassan Bender, Matthew Cannon, Emerson Capote-Weber, Hayden Colosi-Marcantonio, Joshua Epstein, Isaac Lowinger, Von Kramer V, St John Mercurio, Andrew Perry, Evan Reyda, Brodie Vitko.
Handbells Blue 2
Kendris Bell, Joe Bueme, Charlie Gibson, Nolan Jacobs, Comiah Jemison, Sawyer Kenerson, Philippe Mangweji, Julian Massimi, Sawyer Saperston, Caden Walker, Sean Whelehan, Cameron Wiepert.
Guitar Ensemble
Anthony Notino, Ryan Berenji, Constantine Santacrose, Octavian Santacorse, Luca D’Angelo, Patrick Sullivan.
Chorus
Maxwell Bahr, Blaine Benson, Carter Bryant, Corbin Bryant, Martin Cohn, James Eskra, Theodore Hibbard, Elias Jaoude, Cameron Josey, Dylan Leong, Angel Lopez Castillo, Michael Masci, Rocco Panzica, Nyzere Richardson, Kenneth Rutkowski, Stanislav Ryskin, Cooper Zgoda.