An annual winter-like concert

By Drew Olaviano

What a wintery night! The PHHS music department had performed their seasonal “Winter in Bach” concert in the L-Building on December 12, 7 p.m.

“I’m excited about this performance because it’ll be my last winter concert here, so I want to make it the best,” said Symphony Orchestra first violinist player Kevin Su.

The performance happened last Wednesday which is just a week before finals, giving students and audience members alike to a festive feel for Christmas instead of a season filled with workload and stress.

“We have practiced arduously these past few months to better the pieces that we are performing, so I hope people will come to the concert despite it being on a Wednesday,” said Symphony Orchestra violinist Asher Twu.

Once audience members filled in the seats in the building, the performance began. As usual, the String Orchestra started off the grand opening, performing pieces such as Allegro from Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, K.V 525 by W. A. Mozart, Waltz from Serenade, Op. 48 by P. I. Tchaikovsky, The Dargason From St. Paul’s Suite by Gustav Holst and Jingle Bells Hoedown arranger by Robert Kerr.

Concert Band was next to perform with pieces titled Marche Des Parachutiste Belges by Pierre Leemans, Greensleeves arranged by Alfred Reed and The Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Eddie Pola and George Wyle; arranged by John Moss.

Symphony Orchestra performed next after intermission was over with such wintery pieces titled Danse Slave from Le Roi Malgre Lui by Emmanuel Chabrier, Adagio from Symphony in C by Georges Bizet, Overture to Egmont, Op. 84 by Ludwig van Beethoven and Trepak from The Nutcracker by P. I Tchaikovsky.

The last to perform on stage was Wind Ensemble. To finish off the winter concert, they perform various pieces titled Rumble on the High Plains by Michael Sweeney, Wachet Auf by J. S. Bach with the arrangement of Alfred Reed and Sleigh Ride by Leroy Anderson.

With these different groups performing on the big stage, the annual winter concert closed off with many high expectations and festivity within the music department.

This will not be the last winter performance for many performers in the music department. Although for the senior performers, this concert would be their last annual winter performance at Piedmont Hills.

However, that doesn’t mean their excitement has fallen. Many performers from Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble are now preparing for their performance in Disneyland which will take place next year.

“Disneyland is definitely the most exciting upcoming performance. It’s the biggest event/performance we have and it’s only every other year,” explains Symphony Orchestra viola player Tiffany Nguyen.

The music department’s last performance took place in their annual October fall concert. Overall, the winter concert was a treat to people, audience members and players alike, who attended the festive event. By performing a week before finals, the performance was able to keep its festivity intact within the group.

The music department will be hosting their next performance soon and believe they can improve more as the year goes on.