LUSK – The musical numbers brought massive applause and the dialogue was fun and funny. They played to a packed, standing-room only house. A top 40 hit maker? Nope, the Lusk Elementary and NCHS annual Christmas concert.

This year’s program, under the direction of the district’s new K-12 music educator Elise Rodrigues was truly standing room only. Held at the NCHS auditorium as a “double feature” the K-12 program was broken into two acts with the Lusk pre-K through fourth grade featured in the first act and then the fifth through twelfth in the second half with a chili and cinnamon roll dinner served in between.

The third and fourth grade presented both instrumentals and vocal numbers with favorites Jingle Bells, Silent Night and Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree. Then the pre-K through second grade entertained with “North Pole Exposure” by John Jacobsen and Mac Huff, a musical adventure complete with snowmen, overworked elves, reindeer and Santa Claus.

Following a meal break the older students resumed the evening of entertainment. The NCHS Choir performed Homeward Bound and December Rose. The fifth grade band presented renditions of Au Clair De La Lune, A Mozart Melody, London Bridge and Jingle Bells. Sixth graders showed off skills with Sea Chanty, O Tannenbaum and Good King Wenceslas. The NCHS band played Acclamations and A Fireside Christmas.

The program was enjoyable and the community looks forward to future productions from Ms. Rodrigues and her students.