Clad in Santa Claus hats and holiday pajamas, Swampscott Middle School students filed into the school gymnasium bright and early on Friday, December 19. Energy levels quickly rose as Swampscott High School chorus and band students started performing a number of holiday hits and classics.

The chorus kicked off the show with some festive songs as well as others like The Turtles’ 1967 hit “Happy Together.” The band followed, before the two groups combined to perform a couple melodies together.

Swampscott High School Musical Director Edi Rovi said playing in a gymnasium is a lot different than an auditorium because of the echoes.

“It’s like playing in a bathtub,” he joked.

The high school chorus and bands performed their annual holiday concert, which was open to the public, on December 10. Rovi said some of the middle school students might not have been able to attend, so it was nice to play for them about a week later.

“We want to spread holiday cheer,” said Rovi. “Not just for students and teachers but the whole community.”

A middle school teacher was called up to help perform with the band. She was given two long wooden poles to clap together to the tune of a song.

“This went pretty well for 8:30 in the morning,” said Rovi.

Children in the audience, as well as teachers, could feel the holiday vacation creeping up as the groups performed “Sleigh Ride” by The Ronettes. Following each song, the hundreds of middle school students showed their appreciation with a boisterous round of applause.

Rovi said that by having the younger students watch the high schoolers perform great music, it might make them want to keep playing, or start playing, an instrument, which helps the music program.

Choral Director Jim Pearse agreed it was a good experience for the young musicians to see that their skillset is going somewhere. He also said his students have come “a million miles” from the first day of school until now.

“It’s really fun to see the younger kids get such a kick out of the chorus and band,” said Pearse.