In The ZONA - East Valley Jan. 2014 | Page 6

Center for Educational Excellence’s HOLIDAY CONCERT T here’s nothing like school concerts for the holidays. Bringing the family together, supporting the students, teachers, and the arts, and celebrating the holidays as a community. For some families going to their school’s holiday or Christmas concert is almost as traditional as Thanksgiving dinner. The season would not be same without all the cheesy holiday lyrics, quirky dress-codes, odd but symbolic staging, and the sound of developing voices doing their best to make you proud. Since the Holiday concert has become such an annual routine at CEE, Mr. Cruz does his best to make CEE’s Holiday concerts anything but routine. What was your favorite thing about putting together the Holiday Concert? E.W.: My favorite thing was having fun learning the dance moves and learning the songs N.B.: I liked the choreography and the team effort. K.W.: It was really exciting and I liked the team effort C.J.: My favorite part was learning the songs and moves because we had to show the audience how much work we put into it. M.G.: The fact that we got to learn choreography K.J.: Everything I just have so much fun with these things.   Are you excited for the Spring Concert? E.W: Yes, I am very excited because I loved all the other concerts. A: I am very excited about the next concert because I know that Mr. Cruz is going to plan something amazing! E.J.: - I am soooo excited for the spring concert. A: Yes, I’m ecstatic and I’m counting the days. K.J.: - Yes because I get to do the songs and get to help with the costumes. L.N.: - Yes, I am excited to see what we do next concert A.M.: - OH! YEAH!!!   How do you think the audience liked the show? Do you get stage fright? C.J.: - I think the audience enjoyed the concert. I did not get stage fright at all because I just think I’m in the choir room and no one is there. M.K.: I asked my parents and they said it was the best concert yet. I get stage fright sometimes. L.N.: I think they liked it a lot. I also don’t really get scared because I am with all my friends. J.B.: I think the audience thought we sounded great! No, I don’t get stage fright, after the solo I got last year I am not afraid of anything that involves people.   What did you family think of the concert? A: I think my family loved the concert because they were so proud of me. G.H.: My family was in Awe! M.C.: They said it was great and awesome! A.: My family was shocked at how good it was. K.J.: They loved it, they always love coming to my performances. J.B.: My family loved it. They thought the choir sounded the best! Z “I treat the holiday concerts at CEE almost like a showcase with the different grades. I don’t give the entire school a central theme; instead I give a theme to each grade so it leaves room for variety… I always aim high, almost too high sometimes, but because I do so, I know that no matter what the students will be amazing. They will rise to the occasion. I expect a lot out of my students and after the succ