Sounds of the Season: Grand Staff Ensemble Presents its Annual Holiday Concert

Music of the season filled Auten Road School Tuesday night as the Grand Staff Music Ensemble presented its eleventh annual holiday concert.

The 25-plus member ensemble is made up of district teachers, both current and retired, music instructors and teachers of other subjects, students, family and friends.

With a stage decorated with a Christmas tree, candy canes and snowflakes, the Grand Staff performed a wide range of seasonal selections, including excerpts from such classics as "The Nutcracker," "Do You Hear What I Hear?" and "Hanukkah Begins Tonight."

The program also provided some new twists on old favorites, as the ensemble had audience members' toes tapping with the Latin-inspired "Deck the Halls with Chips and Salsa" and "We Wish You a Merry Latin Christmas" and the swing-style "Swingin' into Christmas" and "Good Swing Wenceslas."

The Grand Staff Ensemble is conducted by Gary Smith, who retired in 2009 after 43 years in the district, and Nancy Gallagher, an Auten Road teacher who started the group while at Sunnymead School. They have been sharing the conducting duties for the last four years.

"We encourage people to participate," said Smith. "We tell people to dust off their instruments and join us."

"There's quite a mix of people," said Gallagher, who explained that the group has six rehearsals before each concert.

Kyle Barry, a Hillsborough High School senior who plays the saxophone, expects to major in music education after graduation. He said he plays in the Grand Staff "for the music. It's fun. I'm doing what I love."

"We just like playing music," echoed Ed Goroza, another HHS student who plays the trombone in the ensemble. "Music is sort of an escape from what we do every day."

Ali Carraher, a 2006 HHS graduate currently filling in as assistant band director at the high school was asked by Mr. Smith to bring her saxophone talents to the group.

"It's fun to put something like this together," she said. "I get to play music with the kids and meet the other music teachers in the district.

The concert has a suggested donation of $5 to enter, and proceeds support scholarships for Hillsborough High School graduates who will be pursuing music.

In keeping with the holiday spirit of giving, the evening also included several opportunities for sharing. Auten Road Intermediate School Library Assistant Patti Robins and her son Andrew coordinated a toy drive for youngsters staying at the Ronald McDonald House in New Brunswick. She also took orders for the Ronald McDonald House recipe book.

In addition, students in the Auten Road Gives Back program, under the guidance of Rob Robson, sold hand-made ornaments and refreshments, with proceeds going to the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

One audience member, whose son had participated in the township's music program, explained, "I came to support the music program and to enjoy some good music."