MADISON COUNTY — The holiday season wouldn’t be the same without the music that serves as the soundtrack to many Christmas celebrations.
Area high school bands are doing their part to make sure people get into the festive mood by performing for local audiences, including during the annual Festival of Trees High School Band Jazz Night at the Paramount Theater in Anderson.
Pendleton Heights and Lapel high schools sent bands to be part of the holiday show performed Tuesday, Nov. 27. There were also bands from Madison Grant, Anderson and Alexandria high schools as well as Anderson Preparatory performing.
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Pendleton Heights Jazz Express band performed “Greensleeves,” “The Christmas Song” and “Swing March” from “The Nutcracker.”
Jazz Express was directed by Nathan Hochstetler and included saxophonists Tyler Hosier, Caleb McVey, Kyle Brown, Bailey Barnett, Henry Hines, Jade Bickham, Nathan Kupferer and Benji Whiteside; trumpeters Arthur Taggart, Jack Wimmer, Lyndsey Oswalt, Josh Chriva and Chris Gonima; trombonists Megan Dailey, Drew Byars, Campbell Cross, Macelyn Gosler, Alex Gilley and Chase Kirlin; and rhythm performers Gabe Perel, Hayden Walters, Brayton Gust, Thomas Gosler, Emily Hasty, Christian Roberts, Danial Wyson and Kimberly Cannaday.
Pendleton Heights Jazz Ensemble played “Go Tell It On the Mountain,” “Frosty the Bluesman” and “Beat Street.”
Jazz Ensemble was directed by Chris Taylor and included saxophonists Matt Faulk, Knoll Elsworth, Dillon Sylvester, Jocie Strock and Jacob Cross; trumpeters Nathan Fiew, Jack Wimmer, Chris Gonima and Benji Whiteside; trombonists Camden Steele, Megan Daily, Drew Byars, Campbell Cross and David Bailey; and rhythm performers Jack Hudson, Kaitlyn Custer, Lauren Grile, Asher Glover, Rayni Hedback, Leah Kahana and Beck Sebastian.
Taylor, the Arabians’ head band director, said he likes to get his bands out in the community performing throughout the holiday season.
“It’s always exciting,” Taylor said.
The Lapel High School Jazz Band performed “Jingle All The Way,” “Jazzin’ The World” and “Woodchopper’s Ball.”
The band was directed by Chris Glover and included saxophonists Luke Loller, Tommy Manning, Aidan Sturgeon, Justin Tychek, Brady Holsinger Bari and Nikolas Fisher; clarinetist Catelyn Poorman; trumpeters Isaiah Lasley, Benjamin Manning and Matthew Teeters; trombonists Jaxon Armstrong, Daniel Fisher and Lindriel King; keyboard and bass player Katelyn Garber; drummer Gabriel Crouse; other percussionists Tony Chelli and Dylan Hofer; and pianist Elizabeth Manning.
Glover, the school’s band director, said taking part in the Festival of Trees is a lot of fun and something they look forward to doing, playing with all the other jazz bands from Madison County schools.
“It’s a great way to get into the holiday spirit,” Glover said. “It’s also fun to play some of the holiday favorites with a ‘jazzed up’ version rather than playing it the traditional way.”
For more on school holiday shows, turn to Page 5.