On Thursday night, hundreds of eager spectators filled the HHS Auditorium for the highly anticipated HHS Band Winter Concert. This concert was the first of the year for the band program, so expectations were high. 

The concert featured two ensembles: Concert Band, made up primarily of freshmen and sophomores, and Wind Ensemble, primarily juniors and seniors. Both ensembles performed four pieces individually, and then joined together for a festive performance of “Sleigh Ride,” a fan favorite among many students and listeners.

The audience was filled with parents, siblings, fellow students, band alumni, and importantly, 5th graders. For years, director Brian Cincotta has invited his past students to play “Sleigh Ride” along with the two ensembles, as they also played it at their concert. He always enjoys catching up with his old students, some of whom have married, started families, or become music teachers.

A monumental new addition to the concert this year was the introduction of a 5th-grade “VIP” section. Cincotta wants the 5th graders to see where their musical journey could take them in as little as 4 years, and see how much fun band truly is at the high school. The 5th graders were even allowed to stand between the high school and alumni players during “Sleigh Ride” to hear how magical an experienced high school band sounds. Sophomore euphonium player Zoe Schulze said her favorite part of the concert was, “talking with the 5th graders after the concert.” She marveled at how, “excited they were about seeing us play and how much they looked up to us. They are the future of the band program and if their commitment stays the same, they have a lot to look forward to.”

Chris Hoppe, a junior who plays the trumpet, says his favorite part of the concert was, “when everyone came on to the stage for sleigh ride — I thought that having both bands, as well as the alumni and elementary school students all up there at once was really cool.”

What do both of these concert highlights have in common? They are not directly about the repertoire played, but rather about the thriving community that the band program promotes. The band community is truly one of the best in the entire school system, and continued collaboration between different levels of musicians will allow the community to continue to thrive. 

More music concerts are in the near future, including HHS Orchestra on Tuesday, December 12, HMS Band on Thursday, December 14, and more!