 Christmas Concert with The Band Jaren and Eli Gable
All the way from Nashville, Tennessee, The Band Jaren and Eli Gable came to perform for our students in December. The Christmas concert featured The Band Jaren's original songs and well-known carols. The girl band, named after the eldest sister Jaren, seeks to be a witness for Christ through the joy of singing. As explained during the concert, Jaren means "s/he will cry out" in Hebrew. The hour-and-a-half concert was a wonderful start to our Advent season.
Abbey Musicians Shine at Rhode Island All-State Auditions
 Portsmouth Abbey School is proud to celebrate the remarkable achievements of six student musicians who were selected for the Rhode Island All-State Ensembles following their standout performances at auditions held on November 23 in North Scituate. These auditions, which draw thousands of talented students from across the state, are among the most competitive in Rhode Island, with only the top 100 musicians in each category earning a place in the prestigious ensembles.
The following Portsmouth Abbey students will represent the school in the 2024 All-State Ensembles: Harriet Bogus '28, Billy Jin '26, Brian Lim '27, Hadley Ollerhead '27, Jennifer Rui '25, and Jennifer Shon '25.
In addition to earning their spots, three Abbey musicians secured top rankings statewide for their instruments: Jennifer Shon '25, ranked the second top violinist in Rhode Island; Brian Lim '27, named the top double bassist in the state; and Billy Jin '26, distinguished as the top bass clarinetist in Rhode Island.
Director of Music Michael Carnaroli praised the students’ accomplishments, noting, “The selection of all six Abbey musicians attests to their prodigious talent and unwavering commitment to their craft. Their success epitomizes the caliber of our music program and the dedication of our students to artistic excellence.”
These talented musicians will join their peers from across the state in a highly anticipated performance at Veterans Memorial Hall in Providence on March 9, 2024. This concert will showcase the skill and artistry of Rhode Island’s most accomplished young performers.
Portsmouth Abbey extends its heartfelt congratulations to Jennifer, Brian, Billy, and all its All-State musicians for this extraordinary achievement, which underscores their hard work, passion, and dedication to musical excellence.
For more information about the All-State Ensembles or to purchase tickets for the March performance, please visit www.rimea.org.
Christmas Caroling at Brown University
 Earlier this month, Ms. Lizzie Benestad, head of the Classics department, took eleven students to Brown University for their 76th Annual Latin Carol Celebration.
Brown's Classics department hosts the event each year. The program consists of readings and songs conducted entirely in Latin, with some readings in Greek and Sanskrit.
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