Most Saints are excited for the holidays, and the award-winning San Dimas Choral Department is no exception. Ever since the curtains for their annual October Fall Concert came to a close, every member has been preparing diligently for their sold-out Winterfest Concert on Friday, December 5, 2025. The performance was executed wonderfully by the three San Dimas High choirs: Chorale, the extremely talented beginning choir; Bel Canto, an exclusively female ensemble; and Chamber Choir, the most advanced and complex ensemble featuring versatile co-ed singers. Led by choir director Jared Pugh, these three groups effortlessly spread comfort and holiday cheer to the audience. Just like this concert, the choir members and mentors have beautiful things to share about their experience crafting and delivering this performance to the best it could be. Avid Chamber and Bel Canto members Joriel Dela Pena, Capri Gonzalez, and Stephanie Ma give their thoughts on the joyful concert that set many hearts ablaze.
Sophomores Capri Gonzalez and Stephanie Ma from Bel Canto expressed their feelings about preparing and performing. This ensemble performed two of their own pieces last night: “Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day” by John Rutter, a cheerful song about the birth of Jesus, and “Winter Song” by Sara Bareilles, a stunning winter love song. They also serenaded the audience with their beautiful opening to “Mele Kalikimaka”, a favorite Hawaiian Christmas carol.
“[The most fun part of the concert] was probably near the end, when we finally got ahold of [the music], and we could just sing them easily,” says sophomore Gonzalez. “I think that was amazing, and we all worked together as a team to harmonize.” Sophomore Ma says “one of the most challenging parts is figuring out where to go on stage” and “getting ready, dressing up, putting on heels and makeup.”
Besides hanging out backstage, Gonzalez expresses her joy in singing Mele Kalikimaka. For Ma, her favorite memory was “[singing] the high note in Silent Night”, a traditional piece sung by all choir members.
For Chamber Choir, their preparation has been rigorous, as they have been learning multiple movements of Vivaldi’s Gloria. Their setlist included Gloria Movements 1, 4, and 5, the dazzling pieces “Carol of the Bells” and “Sing We Now of Christmas”, all of which were performed wonderfully. For Senior Joriel Dela Pena, singing in both Bel Canto and Chamber Choir has been “a little stressful, but I also know that’s gonna be really satisfying after I perform, because I have to memorize so many songs.” Her favorite memory of the concert was putting on the flower crown that graduating members wear, as “it’s like a sense of accomplishment.” Throughout the year, Senior Dela Pena has been working rigorously to tell a tale through music, while being Alto Section Leader for Bel Canto and the social media manager.
The San Dimas Choirs have effortlessly spread holiday cheer through music, friendship, and perseverance. The San Dimas Choir Department spreads festivities even when it’s not Christmas. In March, they are set to travel to Hawaii to perform traditional music. Also in May, they will be performing their annual Pops concert and the SD Rocks concert with the school band.
