The Grinch was nowhere to be seen at the recent Northwestern winter concert, where the high school musicians had one goal in mind: to evoke the warmth of the holidays for their audience.

High school band Director James Lykins voiced this very sentiment.

“It’s so heartwarming to be able to share the holidays with you and my students,” Lykins said at the start of the concert.

The hourlong concert included selections by both the chorus and band.

Among the four choral selections was a piece called “African Noel,” that featured a percussion trio as an accompaniment to the lovely voices.

Matt Gerry, the new director of the chorus, directed the group.

A brass quartet played “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and “Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel” in the familiar style often seen in holiday movies.

A woman’s a cappella group called the Naturalettes followed, harmonizing in “California Dreaming” and “White Christmas.”

The band concluded the evening with three rousing selections, including the Karen Carpenter favorite, “Merry Christmas Darling.”

A Christmas medley rounded out the musical evening.

As the audience dispersed in the parking lot, the frigid winter chill seemed just a little bit more bearable.