LEWISTON – Holy Cross School recently rang in the holiday season with the annual Christmas concert, organized this year by the new full-time music teacher, Melissa Colby, and art teacher Dawn Simpson.

The evening program opened with messages of welcome and prayer from Principal Shawn Chabot, and the Rev. Daniel Greenleaf, followed by the Holy Cross School choir singing “Let There Be Peace on Earth.”

The concert featured students from prekindergarten through grade eight entertaining a “standing room only” audience with a festive selection of new and traditional Christmas songs, including “Mary Had a Baby,” “Silent Night” and “There’s a New Kid in Town.”

Solos during “Jesus Oh What a Wonderful Child” were sung by fifth-grader Sarah DiVello and sixth-grader Sophia Goulet. The fifth- and sixth-grade classes also gave highlight performances, playing respectively “O Come All Ye Faithful” and “The First Noel” on recorders.

Holy Cross School’s new music program was made possible through funds raised last spring at the school’s first auction held at the Hilton Garden Inn.

“Music and the arts play integral roles in a well-rounded academic experience,” said Chabot. “It’s been exciting to watch the new music program take flight and to see our students begin to blossom musically.”

Preparation for the Holy Cross School spring concert is already under way.

Holy Cross School is a private, parochial school serving students in grades prekindergarten through eight. It is located at 17 Baird Ave.