To begin the program, the Junior High percussion section was featured in “Rondo for Percussion”. Miah Baker, Sierra Benavidez, Trenton Dragoon, Justus Garza, Xavier Paiz, and Thomas Zapata performed wonderfully on a variety of percussion instruments.
The Junior High Band, under the direction of Melissa Olsson, continued the program with “Chasing the Storm”, an energetic composition with a lively trumpet melody.
The final piece the junior high band performed was, “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”, a “Pop standard” pop standard for this time of year although because of our mostly mild winters, sometimes George West residents have to imagine the blustery, winter weather.
The High School program began with “The Christmas Party” which was a hit with the audience. Composer, Harold Walters uses thirty melodies of the Christmas season and very cleverly condenses them into an instant performance of approximately three minutes. The second piece took audience members on a wonderful “Sleigh Ride”, complete with clomping horses, a whip, and the neigh of the horse. “Sleigh Ride” is one of the most traditional pieces performed this time of year.
The final selection by the high school band was “A Christmas Festival” by Leroy Anderson which contains challenging key signatures and complex rhythms in this medley of Christmas songs. By the time the last chord was played, the band had the audience well in the Christmas spirit with this toe-tapping piece. The High School Band is under the direction of Jim Cordani.
Both the junior high and high school bands, Mr. Cordani, Ms. Olsson, and the George West Band Boosters wish you and your family the very best during this Christmas Season.
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