Christmas Concert 2016
“Christmas!
The very word brings joy to our hearts. No matter how we may dread the rush, the long Christmas lists for gifts and cards to be bought and given –when Christmas Day comes, there is still the same warm feeling we had as children, the same warmth that enfolds our hearts and our homes.”
- Joan Winmill Brown, American author and editor
There is nothing like the voices of children singing to brighten the holidays! There was plenty of this at the International School of Ahafo (ISA) annual Christmas Concert on Thursday, 8th December 2016 for an appreciative audience of parents, family members, teachers, Board members and friends of the school. This was a peace-themed concert in solidarity with the ongoing elections across the country.
On that cool harmattan night, the school Library was beautifully transformed into a festive mantel; a fireplace (adorned with miniature Santa figurines, candles, garlands, customised festive stockings, a backdrop of red curtains and dreamy starlights) created the perfect Christmas scene. It was a star-studded night, which put the twinkle in everyone’s eyes!
The children who had worked very hard to prepare for a great concert came ready to showcase their musical talents. They were dressed in red, green, white or a combination of any of these Christmas colours and some completed the look with a Santa hat. There was no mistaking that Christmas is here!
The night began with a welcome address by our MCs, Petrone Van Der Walt and Melissa Jenay King, and from 6.00pm to 7.00pm, the joyous sounds of Christmas filled the jam-packed Library. There was a rendition of The Kiboomers' "Reindeer Hokey Pokey" by the MKV Playgroup, which had everyone in fits of laughter. This was followed by performances of all-time Christmas favourites from our classes. Sankofa performed "Hip, Hip Hooray" and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"
Nkyinkyim performed Kevin Ross' “This is My Wish” and read their own peace poems. Gye Nyame danced to Justin Timberlake's "Can’t Fight the Feeling" and Brenda Lee's "Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree" and Nyansapo gave a soulful and stunning rendition of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” and John Lennon’s “So This is Christmas, War is over”.
The night also featured group performances by the Music Activity Club who performed Jon Madin's "Cabbage Cafe" and Johann Strauss II's "Blue Danube Waltz" on glockenspiels and individual ones; there was Amanda on Keyboard playing Johannes Brahms' "Cradle Song" and Bach's "Minuet in G", Selorm Ako played “A Journey of Hope” on the Atenteben (a Ghanaian bamboo flute) and Mrs. Yvette Jansen van Rensburg enthralled the audience with a beautiful flute rendition of Andrea Bocelli’s “Besame Mucho”.
The harmonies were pitch perfect and the whole school renditions of “Deck the Halls”, “Oh Christmas Tree” and “Afehyia Pa” (meaning Merry Christmas in Twi) certainly ended the night on a high note!
The concert was followed by a candle-lit procession to the Club House where people were treated to festive refreshments.
This was our first ticketing Christmas Concert and it featured so many students showing talent and lots of hard work from students and staff. As ever, the children were the stars of the show singing beautifully and delivering their lines with confidence and clarity.
All the proceeds from the night will go to a our community service project this year with the Methodist Primary and Junior High School in Kenyase No. 2. The Student Council makes weekly visits to the school to teach reading to the children and we hope to provide a library to support their reading needs.
A huge thanks to the Principal and staff of ISA for all their hard work. We are truly grateful to the Parents,Teachers and Friends of ISA (PTFA) for all their help, hard work and for decorating the Library so creatively. We very much appreciate the time they gave up to prepare the food for the “après-concert” and their relentless support for the school.
A special thank you to the children on the amazing performances they put on for the MKV community. Santa’s little helpers sang their hearts out for our enjoyment! We do hope that parents, family and community members enjoyed the Christmas Concert which we think has scaled new heights now and we thank you all for gracing the occasion with your presence.
On behalf of the Principal, Staff and Students of the International School of Ahafo, we extend to you and your family our warmest wishes for a meaningful Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!