As the auditorium doors opened and the crowds filed into their seats, the night of Dec. 12, 2025 was looking to be a festive one. The annual Not-so-Silent-Night concert presented by the Buena Music Association (BMA) left many in the holiday spirit as every concert band class and choir performed a wide range of traditional songs and originals.
Families, students and all community members were welcomed by food trucks and delicious bakery items for sale to support the BMA. The warmth of the auditorium brought viewers in, as well as the snowflakes that hugged the walls and the stringed lights that gleamed a merry glow. After the crowd settled in with their hot chocolate and baked goods, almost every seat was taken.
As the curtain drew back, the choir kicked off the show. Colorful sweaters and Santa hats brightened the rows of singers as they each wore a piece to celebrate the season. They performed many songs, including “Making Christmas” from “Nightmare before Christmas”. Some notable soloists included seniors Tegan Farnsworth and Cole Coyner, who performed an original song about the experience of having one’s feelings for another left unreciprocated.
One of the favorite vocal performances of the night was from teacher librarian Joel Levin, featuring his daughter, sophomore Alex Levin. A song inspired by the hit show “Stranger Things”, the Levins performed a song entitled “Christmas Lights”.
“It’s not just a performance; the song is about a parent and a child trying to find a connection with each other, so it adds a layer to the song,” J. Levin said. “I appreciate having a musical bond with her.”
Following the melodic masterpieces displayed from our choir, the concert band came to keep the endless talent going. Music director Tim MacDonald introduced the band and applauded their commitment to their craft. Conducting the students passionately, MacDonald’s presence was felt throughout the night.
Varieties of brass, percussion and wind instruments rang throughout the building, making for a jolly atmosphere. As the sleigh bells jingled and the students wrapped up their performance, MacDonald thanked families for attending and expressed his pride in his students.
“I have a group of kids that want to work,” MacDonald said. “They are excited to be in this class, and they like the pieces that we are playing, and I am super blessed to have inherited a good group of kids that really care about the program.”
7:00 p.m. approached and the intermission began. Chatter surrounding the outstanding performances filled the air while many treated themselves to a snack. The concert has been a community-wide favorite for years, and the high expectations some held were exceeded.
As the stage lights flashed and audience members returned to their seats, the jazz band prepared to amaze. They opened with their rendition of the “Heat Miser” and “Snow Miser” rivalry, originally from the film “The Year Without a Santa Claus”. Farnsworth and junior Francesca Martinez played the infamous characters by fighting over the spotlight as they sang.
Strings 2 also impressed many. With their wide variety of holiday songs, many of which were on the “Not-So-Silent-Night Vol. 9” album, many left with a copy of the CD and a smile on their faces. The array of instruments allowed for each student to uniquely showcase their talents and their passion for their instrument.
As the night concluded with the wind ensemble and a warm goodbye from choir director Kevin Downey, many seniors like Stevie Fischetti reflected on the four years spent in the program and the ending of their last Not-So-Silent-Night concert.
“We had a lot of our directors switch, but with MacDonald it has come full circle,” Fischetti said, as she has been involved in the wind ensemble, jazz band, strings 2 and marching band for the past four years. “Our ensembles are much more committed to sounding beautiful and putting on a good show.”
