Finally, it was time for the Carol Concert, which the students had been looking forward to. Everyone enjoyed the opportunity to perform a carol or other piece of music that they had prepared, and at the same time listened with interest as other students performed the same carol in a completely different musical arrangement.
The hall was beautifully decorated with twinkling lights and Christmas garlands, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Parents and teachers took their seats, their faces bright with anticipation as they awaited the first performance.
Interspersed with the traditional carols were original compositions written by some of the students. These pieces, full of personal stories and emotions, added a special touch to the concert. The students put their hearts into every note, earning hearty cheers and standing ovations.
With smiles on their faces and warmth in their hearts, students and families left the concert hall feeling uplifted and inspired, and looking forward to next concerts.
Introductory remarks
At the beginning of the concert, which took place on 27th January 2025, the headmistress of the school, Zofia Zwolińska, reminded the audience of the extraordinarily rich, and nowhere else as numerous as in Poland, literature of carols and pastorals, which have accompanied Christmas celebrations since the 13th century.
The concert was opened by Józefina Jozenas from Zofia Zwolińska’s violin class. To the rhythm of a polonaise, the carol “God is born” was played, and Jozefina performed another carol: “Today in Bethlehem”, “Lulajże Jezuniu” and “When Christ is born”. Josephine made her third appearance in front of the audience with Arcangelo Corelli’s Serenade and Gavotte.
Tosia Rytel, a student of Zofia Zwolińska, performed the song “Jezus malusieńki”.
From Piotr Nermer’s violin class the following performed
- Chuchu – their performance included Natalia Baklanova’s Mazurka.
- Hania Węgrzyn played Silent Night
- Gabriela Gorska performed Jan Sibelius’ Noellette,
- and Valentina Kodas introduced us to the musical theme from the film ‘Lord of the Rings’ and Howard Shore’s ‘Concerning Hobbits’.
- Hanyu Lang, a former student of Zofia Zwolińska and Piotr Nermer, also made a guest appearance, taking advantage of a month’s holiday to fly from China to Poland to take lessons at our school again and to perform the first movement of Pietro Nardini’s Concerto in E minor at the Carol Concert.
The performers from Julia Lewiuk’s piano class were
- Theodor Ross, who played ‘Jolly Old Saint Nicholas’, arranged by Gilbert De Benedetti.
- Leon Vialle played Agnieszka Lasko’s miniature ‘Dance of the Butterflies’.
- Helenka Hakiel sang the carol ‘Przybieżeli do Betlejem Pasterze’;
- KanKan concluded the students’ performances at the carol concert with Nikki Ils’ ‘Blues in the Attic’ – a lighter, bluesy piece.
Hanna Malaszka’s piano class performed:
- Maks Szubert, who played the song ‘Mizerna cicha’,
- and Marcelina Rytel, who performed the leitmotif of ‘Eine Kleine Nachtmusik’ by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
- Julian Farafonov sang two songs: “Let’s all go to the stable” and “Mizerna cicha”.
- Clara Farafonov sang the carol ‘Today in Bethlehem’.
- Melania Mayanova sang the carol “Jesus, little one”.
- and Gaja Yuchnevich sang a duet with her teacher in the carol “Silent Night”.
From Anastasia Seraya’s piano class the following performed
- Laura Wypych with the song ‘Come to Bethlehem
- Laura Altenberg with the song ‘Silent night’.
- and Laura Szubert, who performed Agnieszka Lasko’s ‘Christmas Tree Story’.
- The violin students were accompanied by Tatiana Fedczun.
- The soloists were introduced by Liza Pietraga.
At the end of the concert, the headteacher invited all the soloists on to the stage and they were rewarded with thunderous applause from the audience. Zofia Zwolińska thanked all the teachers for their dedicated work with the students. Special thanks went to the parents and grandparents for their support in developing the musical passion of their children and grandchildren.