GHS Band’s Holiday Concert Will Look Different This Year

GHS band concerts have always been the same, with girls wearing black dresses/skirts, guys wearing suits, holiday songs being played, and everyone getting in the holiday spirit.

But  the GHS band  changed their agenda for this year’s holiday concert this Saturday.

“It’s a full band concert in the gym, modeled after the UW Varsity band concerts.  It’s not as formal as the auditorium concert events,” Director Tom Reifenberg said.

The band usually splits up into two groups during concerts: woodwinds and brass players.

This year the band will also host a teddy bear drive for Children’s Hospital.

“I am excited for the different kind of change in the concert this year because it will give kids stuffed teddy bears as gifts, and just gathering and transporting them will just overall make anyone who receives a bear, happy,” senior Ryan Rhode said.

Parents and students are asked to bring teddy bears.

“We are just hoping for a nice collection of teddy bears to present to Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin early next week,” Reifenberg said.

The drumline will also play their cadence which they played during the Macy’s Day Parade and the Color Light Parade in Chicago.

Some students who played a certain instrument during marching band can choose to switch instruments in concert band.

“I love that I can play a different instrument and learn a new one if I want to,” junior Margaret Shaughnessy said.

Many memories are created during concert band and everyone overall enjoys being in it.

“I like the challenging music and the friendly atmosphere that concert band gives off.  I don’t have a favorite memory, because each one that I had made is special in their own way,” Rhode said.

The band will be playing four songs, five including the cadence. The band will perform “Come All Ye Faithful”, “Holy Night”, “Joy to the World”, “We All Need a Little Christmas”

“I really enjoy the opener, ‘O Come, All Ye Faithful’.  It’s a great concert opener that is familiar to everyone,” Reifenberg said.