The lounge on the second floor of Building 39 was filled with the sounds of the holiday on Monday, December 9, as the SHRS Dean’s Office Holiday Concert featured the musical talents of SHRS students and faculty for the fourth year in a row. 

Those in attendance enjoyed treats while listening to Genetic Counseling students Alexis Nichole James singing Mistletoe accompanied by Sidney La’Akea Ching on electric guitar to start the event. PT Instructor Rebecca Pham followed by singing “Holly Jolly Christmas,” “This Christmas,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” and “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.”

Two first year SLP students were next. Jacqueline Celeste LaRivee sang “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” ”Silver Bells,” and “The Christmas Song” while Helen Cohen sang “If You Want to Sing Out” while playing the guitar and then played “The Swan” from Carnival of the Animals on her violin. Annie Holland (MS-CCC SLP) sang “When We’re Together,” ”Winter Wonderland,” “Let it Snow,” and “I’ll be Home for Christmas” and second year SLP student Kevin Harris sang “It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas,” and “Oh Holy Night.” 

The location gave the event the feeling of a coffee house, as did the cookies, brownies, and hot chocolate bar, and provided a great venue for the sing-along at the end of the event that featured songs such as, “I Have a Little Dreidel,” Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,” and “Feliz Navidad,” among others.

“It’s a great opportunity for performing faculty, staff, and students to showcase their talent, to bring some joy, and to get in touch with a different set of skills than they usually use at the IHP,” said Mike Boutin, SHRS assistant dean for faculty and Student Success, who accompanied several singers on the keyboard. “It’s become a popular, fun holiday event for the whole community and is followed up by a Spring into the Arts Event.”