The annual winter concert is on Dec. 6 at 7 pm. It’s the concert of the fall and winter. The concert will showcase the music department’s skills. 

The concert is performed by the jazz band, concert band, choir and orchestra. Admission will be free because Woodside High School Music Booster Organization funds the concert. This performance will be held in the Performing Arts Center (PAC).   

Students have practice and rehearsal time for this concert in each class. The students often will be in small groups depending on what instrument they play and practice with those people. Then later on in the class, there is rehearsal time where the entire orchestra comes together and plays. Sometimes there also is homework, that gives the students more practice time on their own. The winter concert also lets students grow and learn new material. 

“It’s been fun getting to do a lot of solos and play some new songs that I haven’t had opportunities to play before,” freshman Michael Saste said. “[Many of the songs have]] a little more difficulty than I had the ability to do in middle school.” 

The Winter Concert will not be limited to one style of music. The goal is to keep the music diverse so as to not favor one genre over another. 

“It features a mix of traditional orchestra, jazz and band music,” music teacher Nick Gaydos said. “[There will be] some holiday music as well like some Christmas [and] some Hanukkah songs.”

This concert is an exciting time for a lot of students. It’s a time when they get to perform for their families and friends.

“I think just like getting to play for people and getting to perform,” Saste said. “And to see myself perform and improve based off of what I end up doing.”

Gaydos mentioned how it’s important for the students to perform their music but also for the audience to come and listen to what the students have created. He explained that the audience is just as important as the performers.

“[The audience should be] ready to learn and listen,” Gaydos said.