On December 9th, the Glenbard West Department of Music presented its annual Winter Music Festival in West’s auditorium. The concert highlighted the work that students in orchestra, band, and choir had put in during the year while at the same time getting into the holiday spirit.

The concert featured performances from the concert orchestra directed by Mr. Ortega, symphonic and concert bands directed by Mr. Walsh, and from the treble, advanced treble, chamber, and concert choirs directed by Mr. Jeffrey with piano accompanist Mrs. Ortega.

The orchestra played “Pastores a Belén” from “Suite of Carols for String Orchestra,” “Praeludium and Allegro in the Style of Gaetano Pugnani” featuring solo violinist Ellen Maloney, and “Masters in the Hall” featuring solo violinist Cassie Kim. The concert band played “Old English Christmas” and “Parade of the Wooden Soldier.”

The symphonic band played “Fanfare for the Common Man” and “The Night Before Christmas” featuring narrator Mr. Richmond, an English teacher here at West.

The treble choir performed “Deo Gracias” featuring Julia Ilhardt playing the harp and “The Little Road to Bethlehem.” The chamber choir performed “When Christ was born of Mary free,” “Ave Maria benedicta tu” and “In Dulci Jubilo.”

The advanced treble choir performed “Pueri Concinite” and “The Snow” featuring violinists Ellen Maloney and Cassie Kim.

The concert choir performed “Still, Still, Still” and “Mi Yemalel.”

The final piece was “It’s the Holiday Season” featuring all of the ensembles named above performing together all at once.

“I thought the concert was spectacular,” Mr. Walsh, the band director at West, said, “Everyone performed their best and the audience really enjoyed the wide variety of music.”

The Winter Music Festival was a great success and was followed with immense applause from the audience. The concert not only displayed how talented the music students at West are, but also showed that when all of the groups come together a memorable concert and beautiful music can be made.

As Mr. Walsh stated, “I think making music is special at Glenbard West because while we all do it in different ways we all respect how each group goes about doing it. We may have spats here and there, but we are one family sharing the gift and work hard producing music and when we work together for that goal, amazing things can happen.”