“Eyes on me! Eyes on me!” commanded Jill Whitener, Big Park Community School’s music director.

Fifty children shuffled in the cold afternoon breeze and grew quiet. The 40 fourth-graders and 10 band members of various ages had gathered before the Christmas tree in Uptown’s Canyon Breeze Plaza to perform carols on Friday, Dec. 12.

“We’re going to be playing songs from every part of the United States and the world,” Whitener said to the gathered crowd once her students had readied themselves. “This is our very first year to have instrumentalists and we’re so happy to get started.”

Diane Walter, one of the two fourth-grade class teachers, whispered that her students were very excited — “and nervous, too, believe it or not.”

Members of the crowd lifted their cameras, waiting for the singing to start.

“Are we ready?” Whitener asked the students.

To read the full story, see the Wednesday, Dec. 17, edition of the Sedona Red Rock News.