The concert included band selections conducted by Nathaniel Sperl, who directs the school’s band program. This year’s concert marked the first time fifth- and sixth-grade students performed alongside older students in the same program.

“The main goal is to let people hear the progression from the youngest students up through high school,” Sperl said. “You get to hear where they start and where they end up.”

Band selections included traditional and contemporary holiday music, including “Deck the Halls” and “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” The program also featured a performance by students enrolled in the school’s Music Production class, now in its second year. Sperl said students in the class learn live sound engineering and digital music creation.

“They’re creating their own music and learning how live sound works,” Sperl said. “It’s a different side of music that had not previously been part of the program.”

Cathedral High School’s Choir performed their holiday concert Monday.

The choir portion of the concert was directed by Michael Koester and centered on the hymn “It Is Well.” The performance combined choral music with narration delivered by student drama participants. The piece told the story of Horatio Spafford, who wrote the hymn in 1873 after losing four daughters in a shipwreck.

Michael Koester said the format was adapted from an extended musical narration performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, now known as the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square.

“They do a much longer version with orchestra and narration,” Koester said. “We adapted the concept to fit our students and the time we had.”

David Koester, Michael Koester’s father, accompanied the choir on piano. He said coordinating narration and music required timing between the narration and accompaniment.

Seventh grade choir members perform “Somewhere in My Memory” during Cathedral High School’s Christmas concert, directed by Michael J. Koester.