REGION — Elementary, middle and high schools in the region are gearing up for the holidays and sharing the gift of music with fellow students, parents and visitors alike as a variety of seasonal concerts are scheduled across the area. These musical presentations are designed to appeal and present a perfect opportunity for both children and adults to gather, celebrate and ring in the holidays, with programs that will inspire and entertain...Catskills-style.

Sullivan West celebrates the season

Sullivan West will celebrate the season with a series of performances on the following dates. The Junior High Winter Concert will take place in the Sullivan West High School auditorium on Wednesday, December 7 at 7 p.m. The Senior High Winter Concert will take place on Tuesday, December 13 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium. The Elementary Winter Concert will take place on Thursday, December 15 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium. For all three concerts, the snow date is set for Monday, December 19 at 7 p.m.

Eldred festivities

Eldred will get festive with two winter concerts. The Eldred Central School District Band will perform on Monday, December 12 at 7 p.m. at the Mackenzie Elementary School gymnasium, with a snow date of Tuesday, December 13. The Eldred Central School District Chorus will perform on Wednesday, December 14 at 7 p.m. in the MacKenzie Elementary School gymnasium, with a snow date of Thursday, December 15.

Musical Monticello

On Monday, December 19, the Monticello Central School District will present a Winter Choral Prism Concert in the Arnold Packer Hughes Auditorium at Monticello High School. The fifth and sixth grade chorus groups will join the High School Chamber Singers in a stylish program that will highlight students from the Cooke School, the Kenneth L. Rutherford School and the Emma C. Chase School.

The Monticello High School (MHS) Jazz band will perform a selection of holiday tunes, mixed with big band favorites, at the Sullivan County Government Center on Wednesday, December 21 at noon. Also at the government center, on Friday, December 16, the MHS Guitar Ensemble, under the direction of David Chidsey, will perform holiday and folk music from a variety of genres in the center’s lobby.

During the month of December, Monticello’s student musicians will be performing in various locations around the community. For a complete performance schedule, visit www.monticelloschools.net.

Raise your voice

in Roscoe

Like an early Christmas gift, the music students at the Roscoe Central School have been invited to perform at the United Nations in May, 2012. To raise funds, the kids are selling Gertrude Hawke Chocolates (good stocking stuffer!) and “any donations to the cause will be greatly appreciated.” To participate in this worthy musical cause, give the school a jingle at 607/498-5777.

Grahamsville greetings

Two winter concerts are scheduled for the Tri-Valley School district. On Tuesday, December 13, grades 5-8 will perform and on Tuesday, December 20, grades 9-12 will be in residence at the Bernstein Theatre on the school campus-located at 34 Moore Hill Road in Grahamsville. For more information, call 845/985-2296.

Listen in Liberty

The Middle School Concert (Part 1) will take place on Thursday, December 8 (snow date, 12/12). The program will feature the seventh and eighth grade string orchestra, concert choir, band and the Middle School Jazz Ensemble.

The Middle School Concert (Part 2) will take place on Wednesday, December 14 (snow date 12/15) featuring the Middle School Woodwind Ensemble, the fifth and sixth grade orchestra, chorus and band.

A variety of music will be performed in all of the concerts. The groups will be performing under the direction of Scott Glasser, Tim Hamblin, Dan McConnell, Emily Ford and Gary Siegel. The festivities will begin at 7 p.m. for all of the concerts and will take place in the David E. Panebaker Auditorium at Liberty High School.

In addition, there will be a High School Winter Concert Assembly Program on Friday, December 9 (time to be announced) and a Middle School Winter Concert Assembly Program on Friday, December 16 in the high school auditorium at 1:00 p.m.