Every year in December, the choir and band have a Christmas concert and present a selection of holiday music for a combination of parents and spectators. This year, new music director Michael Ogdon aims to reinvent the concert with a Christmas musical based on the music of Michael W. Smith, Dec. 14.

The concert will be titled “Agnus Dei” which means “Lamb of God born to us” in Latin. It will be held at River Park Bible Church on Millbrook and Alluvial at 7:30 p.m. and is free of charge.

Instead of the materialistic presents and feigned holiday cheer which sometimes accompanies the season, Ogdon says he wanted to have a performance with a message.

“At Christmas we have the opportunity to show what the music is about,” Ogdon said. “I wanted to challenge our students to become a ministering body and not just a performing group.”

In order to put this into action, Ogdon enlisted the help of not only the choir and band, but the high school drama class, color guard, a handful of people from the worship team and a few adult and teen helpers.

Worship team director David Martens was asked by Ogdon to assist students this year for the new combined performance. Normally, Martens is seen playing his guitar in chapel. However, for this exhibition Martens will play the trombone.

“I love music and I enjoy playing my trombone,” Martens said. “Even though I haven’t played it for 15 years it’s nice to use the talent here and sit with the students.”

Although a combined performance is new to many students, senior Olivia Franklin says the idea of a new arrangement will help them grow as musicians.

“It’s exciting that we as a whole music department get to try something new,” Franklin said. “Also, singing with the band teaches [the choir] new things like how to sing louder.”

Not everyone was as excited for a musical as Franklin. A few, like Zedekiah Fries, ’12, were skeptical and nervous about the idea of a combined performance.

“I’m nervous because I don’t usually perform in front of a lot of people and I fear that not everybody will be able to remember their parts,” Fries said. “I’m also not used to performing with choir and drama.”

Ogdon says he is not worried about mishaps, despite the fast-approaching date of the concert.

“I’m not worried about it musically,” Ogdon said. “Here’s the thing, to play ‘Jingle Bells’ shows what we can do… but it doesn’t interact with the audience. But what we’re doing offers something permanent and I would love to think this influences people.

“I am really looking forward to this program. Everyone has worked to be prepared. Now it’s time to do it to our fullest.”

For more information, e-mail Ogdon or read the Nov. 16 article, Bands unite for 90th Veterans Day Parade or check out Play your horn.