By Jayne Walker, Staff Writer
Band director Bob Ebert has promised one surprise for the annual winter concert: “I am not going to share the details,” he said. “They will have to come and find out.”
Another surprise will be on tap Thursday, Dec. 15, for music fans in need of the perfect Christmas present: The First Flight PTSO is sponsoring a special shopping event on the second floor of the rotunda from 3:15 until 6 p.m., allowing local vendors a chance to interact with music fans before and after the concert band, honors choir, Nighthawk choir, orchestra, and honors jazz ensemble perform at 6 p.m.
The concert band will be performing five pieces, including “Sleigh Ride” and “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.”
“My favorite part of the winter concert is working with the new students,” Ebert said. “Just putting the music together with a new band, because the same band never runs twice, so it is a little different from year to year with a bunch of different personalities and you have to find the music that fits them.”
Chorus and orchestra director John Buford is enjoying his first year being the only chorus teacher after replacing Cezette Barnes.
“Making all of the decisions is a little different, but it’s kind of nice to be able to choose the music. I really enjoyed finding just the right pieces for my choir,” he said. “Since last year, the difficulty level in honors has stepped up.”
Buford also slightly changed a piece the chorus sang every year with Barnes: “Peace on Earth.” The honors choir is performing three songs, one being an a cappella version of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”
“It was arranged by the guy who wrote a lot of the pieces from ‘Pitch Perfect,’ ” Buford said.
The Nighthawk choir will be singing three arrangements as well. The orchestra is performing four pieces, including “Silent Night,” which features a solo by freshman Emmy Trivette.
Admission is free, and the honors jazz ensemble will be playing in the rotunda after the main concert as shoppers make their final purchases from the vendors.
“It’s free and it is going to be really good music this year,” Ebert said. “It’s just a nice way to kick off the holiday season.”
Juniors Alex Rodman and Arabella Saunders contributed to this report. Sophomore Jayne Walker can be reached at walkerja0213@daretolearn.org.
