Last Thursday, the PGHS orchestra, concert band, and jazz band put on their annual holiday concert. Landing on the week before finals, the performance brought a much needed sense of holiday spirit to the semester’s end. Each group performed some classic repertoire while tossing some new spins on holiday essentials.
The orchestra played first, led by concertmaster Angela Liu and Dr. Warren. They performed five pieces, including “Pachelbel’s Christmas”, a take on the famous Pachelbel’s Canon. For their final piece, “Greensleeves”, the orchestra was accompanied by Mrs. Lukefahr on the harp. While this comes as no surprise to those who have had her class, she has been playing the harp since high school. Having started working here at PGHS at the same time as Dr. Warren, she had offered to play whenever a harp part came up. After the concert, Ms. Lukefahr shared that she believed the balance and performance of the orchestra during “Greensleeves” was exceptional and that she enjoyed playing with them.
Following the orchestra was the concert band, performing a total of four songs. Up first was “Adeste Fidelis”, an arrangement similar to “O Come All Ye Faithful”, conducted by drum major Christopher Platt. Next were a compilation of popular Christmas pieces entitled “Christmas Festival”, and a “Silver Bells” arrangement, both conducted by Dr. Warren. Kai Bishop closed off the band’s set, conducting Leroy Anderson’s piece, “Sleigh Ride”.
The final group of the night was the jazz band, which brought a mix of funky arrangements to close out the concert. Starting off with an impromptu “Second Line”, led by Kai Bishop, the band then flowed into a fast-paced “Jingle Bells”. A jazzy “The First Noel” continued the night’s trend of fun, unique arrangements, and “Big Band Christmas” kept up the holiday theme. The band then slowed things down with “Sugar Rum Cherry”, a version of Tchaikovsky’s “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” from The Nutcracker Suite. “A Charlie Brown Christmas” wrapped up the night, featuring nostalgia-filled movements and a peaceful ending.
