Indian River Stage Band to offer holiday entertainment

Those looking for a fun family-friendly holiday concert to enjoy may want to consider attending the Third Annual Indian River High School Stage Band Holiday Concert on Friday, Dec. 16, at 7 p.m. in the IRHS auditorium.

A stage band had always been a dream for Band Director Mark Marvel. Previously, IR had a music group ECHO, run by former choral director Richard Eckerd, but it ended when he left the school.

“I’ve always wanted to do something like that. And when Mr. Ables was hired as the chorus director, it kind of freed me up to do things like this,” explained Marvel. “So that was exciting.”

Tickets to the concert will be sold at the door, on a first-come, first-served basis, for $5. The holiday concert will run approximately two hours and feature more than 25 songs.

“It’s going to have songs in it ranging from traditional Christmas carols, like ‘Little Drummer Boy,’ but it’s going to have more current stuff. There’s a Christmas song we’re doing, by The Killers and we’re doing some Trans-Siberian Orchestra stuff, which is really cool.”

Marvel said that, this year, the stage band is adding narration to the show.

“We’re writing all these little poems, like the Dr. Seuss poems, that are going to introduce every song,” he explained. “It’s going to tell a story of a family that’s lost their joy and hope and the fun of the season. And the Christmas angel is going to take them through a journey of songs and music, and, of course, at the end of the show, hopefully, the family will be happy again.”

Along with the music, there will be staging with props, lighting, snow machines and costumes, including Frosty the Snowman.

“There’s going to be some silent acting. It should be really cool,” said Marvel.

The stage band is a group of 14 choral students, 12 girls and two boys, who went through an audition process and were selected to perform in this year’s show.

“It’s a very select ensemble,” said Marvel. “They are the best of the best as far as the singers.”

Marvel said that there weren’t any auditions for the live pit band that will accompany the singers, but it is essentially made up of the first-chair players from each instrument section within the school’s band.

“It’s probably one of the best pit bands I’ve ever had. They’re amazing.”

Marvel himself writes the arrangements of the music, which includes a mixture of wind and electronic instruments.

“You can’t buy music for this kind of a show. You have to write the music yourself. I had to write all of them, all of the parts. It’s about a month’s work, staying up and writing the music. It’s a labor of love.”

Marvel noted that, last year, following a heavy snowstorm, approximately 300 people still attended the show. He said he hopes that, this year, more will come out to support the music program and his hardworking students.

“I hope we make a lot of money for the music department,” said Marvel. “It’s a fundraiser for the music department, obviously, which helps buy instruments and things to keep the program going,” said Marvel. “I hope the kids have a ball and the audience is entertained. I think they will be.”