📣 Welcome Note

Welcome to our 2025 Winter Concert! We’re thrilled to showcase the incredible growth of our Beginning and Advanced Band students. From festive classics to cinematic themes and holiday hits, tonight’s program highlights the diversity of musical expression our students have worked hard to master.

This concert also serves as a reminder that music is more than notes—it’s teamwork, discipline, and joy. Every rehearsal, every missed note, every breakthrough moment has led to this performance. Thank you for supporting these young musicians!

Now, sit back, relax, and enjoy a musical journey that spans galaxies, snowy streets, and holiday memories.

🎺 Beginning Band Program

These 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students picked up their instruments just a few months ago—and tonight, they make their performance debut! Their songs may seem simple, but each note represents hours of effort learning how to produce sound, read music, count rhythms, and play as a team.

🎵 Jingle Bells (Traditional)

One of the most iconic holiday songs, Jingle Bells gives students a fun opportunity to learn repeated rhythms and dynamic contrast. The piece reinforces breath control, steady tone production, and ensemble awareness. Students learn to play in unison while bringing out the familiar, cheerful melody we all know and love.

🎵 Jolly Old St. Nicholas (Traditional)

This gentle, lyrical piece helps our young players focus on phrasing and breath support. The challenge in this piece is playing smoothly and with expression—a great introduction to shaping musical lines and working on pitch accuracy.

🎵 Cool It by John Edmondson

This bluesy, jazzy number brings a touch of swagger to the stage! Cool It introduces students to swing style, syncopation, and call-and-response phrasing. It’s a student favorite and often sparks the realization that music can be both challenging and cool at the same time.

🎷 Advanced Band Program

Comprised of returning 7th and 8th grade musicians and advanced 6th grade, our Advanced Band has tackled a wide range of music this semester—from movie themes to emotionally rich concert works. These students are developing tone, technique, and musical maturity.

🎬 Star Wars (Main Theme) by John Williams, arr. Paul Lavender

We open with this cinematic classic, inviting the audience into a galaxy far, far away. While the band plays, a short narration introduces our ensemble and sets the tone for the evening. This piece demands confident brass playing, precise articulation, and dynamic control—all while managing a tempo that mirrors the intensity of a starfighter chase.

Educational Highlight: Students must balance melody and harmony lines across all sections, building awareness of orchestration and thematic development.

🔥 Portent by Roland Barrett

This explosive work showcases the technical abilities of our ensemble—particularly our fiery percussion section. Portent features bold rhythms, unexpected twists, and ominous harmonies that grip the audience from start to finish. It requires intricate counting, dynamic balance, and intense focus.

Director’s Note: This piece challenges students to think dramatically, using their instruments to create tension, suspense, and energy.

🛷 Sleigh Ride by Leroy Anderson

A winter concert staple! Sleigh Ride is both festive and deceptively difficult. Students must navigate tricky rhythms, unexpected rests, and ensemble synchronization, all while keeping the spirit of fun alive.

Fun Fact: Originally written in July, this piece has become synonymous with sleigh bells, horse whinnies, and cozy holiday cheer.

💔 Last Christmas by George Michael, arr. Michael Brown

We end on a pop culture favorite. Last Christmas brings a modern groove with heartfelt melody and catchy rhythms. It’s a fan favorite—and our band’s playful way of closing out the night on a high note.

🙏 Special Thanks

• Our amazing MMS administration and staff

• Our band parents and guardians for rides, support, and snacks

• Our student leaders who help set up, tune, and lead by example

• YOU — our audience — for cheering these young musicians on!
  
  

• Rehearsal End Time: All rehearsals will end promptly at 6:00 PM. Students should be out of the building by 6:10 PM after packing up their instruments and putting away their stands.

• Parent Pick-Up: Please be present to pick up your child no later than 6:15 PM after rehearsals. It is crucial to be on time for pick-up.