From December 7-9, the 19th annual Sounds of the Season was held as an amazing way to ramp up the holiday season! Sounds of the Season is a program produced by Huntington Beach High School’s Academy of the Performing Arts (APA) and a beloved Christmas tradition that brings nearly every department in APA to sing and dance together. 

APA junior technician Lynh Tran says, “Sounds of the Season was a great opportunity for APA departments to work with each other all at once and helped me make more connections with other students.”

The show involved the APA Orchestra playing various pieces from “The Nutcracker” and other holiday favorites like “Sleigh Ride” and “Hallelujah.” There were also many special performances from APA’s Musical Theater Ensemble, The Surf City Singers, the APA Dance Department, the HBHS Oiler Band, the APA acting department, the HBHS Orchestra, and more. 

“My favorite experience was ‘talking’ on stage with my friends before the number started since we would communicate through hand signs and lip reading every night,” says Jaden Stock, a singer in the ensemble. “‘Santa Send a Fella’ was such a giddy song where each of us could add our character to it, and overall, it was just a fun number to perform in,” said Stock. 

This year, the show had a theme of “Home for the Holidays” and was delivered as a holiday television special hosted by  HBHS sophomore Bennett Penney and senior Talia Holloway, student actors in APA’s acting program. Penney’s witty jokes combined with Holloway’s no-nonsense attitude made the show hilarious and comfortable. 

Claire Tunstall, a singer in the musical theatre number, Surf City Singers, and a part of the classical voices number says, “It was so fun to get into the Christmas spirit with my friends!”

Overall, Sounds of the Season was an amazing way to get into the holiday spirit and showcase all the talent at HBHS. If you missed this year’s, there is always next year’s to look forward to!