Holiday Pops Concert Lights Up Campus Center

RSC director Gabriella Sanna was thrilled with the evening, which was a rebranding of the former holiday Wassail Party. “It was great,” said Sanna. “The performances were first-rate, the audience was engaged, and we exceeded our fund-raising goals.” At last count, the event raised more than $54,000, all of which will go toward supporting scholarships and financial aid at the Conservatory.

Attendees enjoyed a dressed-up “box supper,” along with musical performances from RSC and Rivers School groups including Suzuki Violins, the Marimba Magic Ensemble, the Rivers School Honors Big Band, the Rivers Youth Symphony, and the a cappella group The Riverberations. There was also a heads-or-tails game, a raffle with fabulous prizes (such as a one-week stay in a Paris apartment), a mystery wine pick, and—in the spirit of the season—a holiday sing-along.

Joe Nedder ’18 ably served as master of ceremonies for the evening. Nedder, now studying music and political science at Northwestern University, was an outstanding music student at Rivers. A highlight of the evening was his turn with the Honors Big Band, singing “I Ain’t Got Nothing but the Blues” and playing trombone for the rest of the set, in a slight departure from the holiday theme. “It was really special,” says Sanna. “I thought it made all the jazz kids so much more excited, as he is an example of what Conservatory students can do after they leave Rivers.”

Most of all, says Sanna, she’s grateful for the generosity of all who attended and contributed. “It shows how much our community understands and supports the value of music education,” she says, noting that the scholarship money will enable many more young people to pursue lessons. “What a wonderful way to celebrate this festive season.”

To view our gallery of photos from the Pops concert, click here.