Head to Manheim Central Middle School on Sunday, Dec. 17, and you can enjoy some holiday music while supporting students in the district. The Manheim Central High School band, orchestra and choir will present a concert beginning at 2 p.m. at the school, 261 White Oak Road, Manheim. During intermission, members of the school's Interact Club will accept donations for the annual music/Interact scholarship award.

The choir, under the direction of Emily Sauder, will perform a variety of songs. "The Manheim Central High School choir plans to sing through new and classic choral arrangements such as 'Carol of the Bells,' 'Biddy Bum' and 'Silent Night,'" Sauder said. "Our choral program also has an advanced singing group, called Chansodie, a treble-voiced group this year, which will performing a piece titled, 'Go! Said the Star.'"

The orchestra will be directed by Ally Bartlett. Selections will include Leroy Anderson's "Sleigh Ride" as a full symphonic orchestra, Bartlett said. "Additionally, the string orchestra will perform a lyrical arrangement of 'See Amid the Winter's Snow' by Kirk Moss, a rhythmically intricate rendition of the traditional 'O Come, O Come, Emmanuel' melody by John Henry Hopkins Jr. titled 'Star of Emmanuel' and finally, 'All Is Bright' by Steve Parsons - a lively medley featuring a variety of popular holiday tunes," she shared.

Bartlett added that she is especially impressed with the orchestra members because the group is newly formed. "The students have been working extremely hard to put this concert together," she said. "We only met for the first time back in the second week of November, so to see all of their progress in such a short time period is a true testament to their hardworking nature and strong musicianship."

The band is under the direction of John Brackbill and will be performing an arrangement of carols called "Christmas Is Here!" The arrangement will feature "Joy to the World," "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen," "Carol of the Bells" and "We Three Kings." The group will also perform an original work titled "The First Snow," based on Agnes Tait's painting "Skating in Central Park"; an original arrangement of "Silent Night," titled "On That Night All Was Silent"; and a Celtic-inspired arrangement of "What Child Is This?" called "Celtic Carol."

Members of the Interact Club will hand out programs in addition to receiving donations. The club, advised by Amy Burdyn and Andrew Hollinger, along with volunteer adviser LuAnn Wise, is supported by the Rotary Club of Manheim and includes 130 active members. Members are required to serve a minimum of 10 hours in their community in a school year, but several of the members are already well over this number, Burdyn said.

"By Dec. 3, we (had served) over 1,400 hours this school year," she noted. "Last year, we served over 1,400 hours for the entire school year. which was incredible. We (have crushed) that number as our group continues to grow in numbers and enthusiasm."

Proceeds from donations will be used to support a senior in the music department and one in the Interact Club with two scholarships presented at the end of the school year.