Staples High School To Host 86th Annual Candlelight Concert In December

WESTPORT, CT — Staples High School will present its 86th annual Candlelight Concert on Friday, Dec. 11, and Saturday, Dec. 12, featuring more than 200 student musicians performing a selection of seasonal and classical works.

The concerts will take place in the Staples High School auditorium at 8 p.m. Friday and 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday.

Under the direction of the Staples music faculty, the program will feature performances by the school's bands, orchestras, choirs and student-led ensembles.

The concert will open with Tielman Susato's "La Morisque" and the traditional Candlelight processional, "Sing We Noel."

The combined band and orchestra will perform Lucas Richman's "Hanukkah Festival Overture" and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's "Procession of the Nobles."

Choral selections will include Mozart's "Ave Verum Corpus" and "Betelehemu," a Nigerian carol popularized by Babatunde Olatunji and Wendell Whalum.

The first act will conclude with Dan Forrest's "Jubilate Deo," featuring more than 200 students performing together in the band, orchestra and choir.

The program will also feature the return of Mark Ceppetelli's "Candlelight Suite," composed for Staples in 2025 to showcase student-led small ensembles.

The ensembles are selected through auditions conducted by the music staff. Students organize their own groups, select their repertoire and, in many cases, arrange their own music.

The concert will conclude with Bob Krogstad's "The Bells of Christmas," performed by the combined chorus, band and orchestra, followed by Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus."

Tickets Available Dec. 1

Free tickets will be available to the public beginning Tuesday, Dec. 1, at 9 a.m. through www.wpsarts.org.

There is a limit of four tickets per order. Organizers said tickets have historically sold out quickly.

Although admission is free, donations to support the Staples music program will be accepted.

Food Drive To Benefit Local Pantry

The Staples Tri-M Music Honor Society will also hold its annual "CanDelight" canned food drive to benefit the Westport Homes for Hope Food Pantry.

Collection bins will be available in the Staples High School lobby before each concert for attendees who wish to donate canned goods.

— Flyer designed by Staples art students Sophia Hopson & Larkin Dodwell