Winterfest is one of Williams’ most cherished holiday traditions, spanning over 40 years, and celebrates the performing arts through a vibrant mix of dance and music. Held annually at the Harkness Chapel at Connecticut College, the event brings together diverse music and dance programs for a joyful gathering before the winter break. It provides an opportunity to showcase our students and a few faculty and celebrate the holiday season as a community. Preparations for Winterfest begin as early as September, with performers diligently refining their routines for the highly anticipated event.
Barbara Parish has choreographed the Candle Dance, Winterlights, since 1986. “One interesting fact is that for several years we actually used real candles, in glass containers, and the dancers blew the candles out at the end of the piece,” Parish recalled, reflecting on the various changes the dance has undergone over the years. These transformations have helped cement its lasting legacy in the Williams community.
The event comprised 12 performances, showcasing a diverse array of musical genres and dance:
Event Performances:
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing – F. Mendelssohn
The Williams School Jazz Band
Winter Wonders – Amy F. Bernon
Middle School Choir | Jeff Cregeur, piano
Snowman – Sia
Kasen Orenstein ’27, mezzo-soprano | Jeff Cregeur, piano
8 Days (of Hanukkah) – Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
Jacob Bates ’25, Ace Bairos ’27, Orchid Burns ’27, Hudson Foise ’28, Sierra Hurst-Ruales ’29, Kasen Orenstein ’27
“Questa o quella” from Rigoletto – G. Verdi
Jeff Cregeur, tenor | Emma Tanabe ’25, piano
Blue Christmas – Billy Hayes & Jay W. Johnson
The Williams School Jazz Band
Deck the Halls! – Traditional Welsh Carol
Vocal Lab Choir
Gesù Bambino – Pietro Yon
Ace Bairos ’27, tenor | Jeff Cregeur, piano
Linus and Lucy – Vince Guaraldi
Emma Tanabe ’25, piano | Julia Battista ’26, percussion
I’ll Be Home for Christmas – Gannon & Kent
Jessy Griswold, vocals | Jeff Cregeur, piano
Last Christmas – George Michael
Leo Fowler ’25, tenor | The Williams School Jazz Band
Goodnight to You All – Traditional Round
All School Choir
Performers:
Winterlights
“Carol of the Bells” by M. Leontovich, arr. George Winston
Choreographed by Bo Parish | Jeff Cregeur, piano
Dancers: Veronika Altamirano ’25, Julia Cote ’25, Zoelle Boor ’30, Alexia Georgiadis ’27, Angelina Georgiadis ’27, Sarah Harvey ’27, Sierra Hurst-Ruales ’29, Gabriella Ivy ’28, Anjeliah Llanos-Reyes ’27, Kiera McKillop ’28, Brooke McLoughlin ’25, Madeline Muench ’31, Vanessa Noble ’26, Isabella Pepas ’28, Madden Remmert ’28, Josephine Rimmer ’27, Nora Simonelli ’28, Emma Tanabe ’25, Ruiyan (Julia) Wang ’29, Isabella Wilcox ’27, Claire Xenelis ’29
The Williams School Jazz Band
Bond Su ’28, flute | Ken Wang ’26, clarinet | Nicholas Carseli ’29, saxophone | Hudson Foise ’28, guitar | Yuran Li ’26, guitar | Emma Tanabe ’25, piano | Julia Battista ’26, percussion
Middle School Chorus
Lucian Bace ’31, Beatrix Bailey ’30, Barbara Bates-Ma ’31, Zoelle Boor ’30, Elliot Boyle ’30, Sabina Canning ’30, Nicholas Cosentino ’30, John Paul Champagne ’31, Ian Chester ’31, Shawn Decastro ’30, Annie Ellis ’30, Eli Fetzer ’30, Greta Field ’30, Henry Folstein ’31, Sarah Folstein ’30, Alexa Gjonaj ’31, Jake Gjonaj ’30, Jonny Gould ’30, Emilia Leeming ’30, Alexa Lindner ’30, Connor Ma ’31, Jack McClenahan ’30, Madeline Muench ’31, Lauren Naysnerski ’30, Nanak Patel ’30, Finn Pesarik ’30, Gabriel Ramos-Esteban ’30, Anthony Raynor ’30, Madeline Reid ’31, Calvin Rossman ’31, Lylah Sawyer ’31, Aeryn Smith ’30, Julian Thorn ’30, Simon Tomlinson ’30, Vicky van Berkel ’30, Valentin Vasquez ’30, Hutch Walsh ’30
Vocal Lab Chorus
Zara Asim ’26, Ace Bairos ’27, Scarlett Behm ’25, Zoelle Boor ’30, Orchid Burns ’27, Raymond Dolan ’28, Leo Fowler ’25, Sierra Hurst-Ruales ’29, Kasen Orenstein ’27
